Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s number one, had a relatively easy time on Tuesday, defeating Veronika Kudermetova 6-3, 6-4 in the round of 16 at the WTA 1,000 Dubai tournament. Similarly, Iga Swiatek, the second-ranked player, dominated Victoria Azarenka with a convincing 6-0, 6-2 win.
Upcoming Matches
Sabalenka’s next opponent will be the winner of the match between Clara Tauson and Elina Svitolina, while Swiatek is set to face Dayana Yastremska in the round of 16.
The Belarusian tennis star, who has been at the top of the rankings since September 2024, is looking to bounce back from a loss to Yekaterina Aleksandova in the WTA 500 tournament in Doha last week. Despite that setback, Sabalenka had a strong showing at the Australian Open, where she made it to the final before falling to Madison Keys in three sets.
Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, also experienced a loss in Doha, where she was defeated by Jelena Ostapenko in the semifinals. Additionally, she fell to Keys in the semifinals of the Australian Open.
Potential Showdown
If both Sabalenka and Swiatek continue to advance, they could potentially face each other in the final, which would be a highly anticipated match given their history. The two players have faced each other 12 times, with Swiatek leading 8-4.