Elena Rybakina survived a gripping battle against Ons Jabeur to keep her Abu Dhabi title defense alive, overcoming the Tunisian in a dramatic third-set tiebreak, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(4), to advance to the semifinals.
The clash between the two familiar foes lived up to its billing, marking their fifth three-setter in six meetings. Rybakina looked in control early, taking the opening set with ease, but Jabeur responded with characteristic flair. Despite a brief stumble when serving for the set at 5-1, she closed it out on her second attempt to force a decider.
What followed was a nail-biting final set where Jabeur, backed by a vocal crowd, struck 43 winners 14 more than Rybakina and matched her rival in unforced errors.
She even led 4-2 in the decisive tiebreak. But when it mattered most, the top seed found another gear. Rybakina reeled off the final five points to clinch victory in just over two hours.
“It was an extremely difficult match. Ons played really well, every game was so close, and I’m really happy I managed to win,” Rybakina said, calling the contest “a big roller coaster.”
With the win, Rybakina extends her unbeaten run in Abu Dhabi to six matches and moves one step closer to a second consecutive title. Awaiting her in the semifinals is Belinda Bencic, who dispatched Marketa Vondrousova earlier in the day.
The 2023 champion, on the comeback trail after becoming a mother last year, will pose another stern test as she chases her first final since Charleston.
