*** Rybakina retires in Dubai, Anisimova and Andreeva set up last eight clash | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Rybakina retires in Dubai, Anisimova and Andreeva set up last eight clash

AFP | Dubai

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Elena Rybakina was the latest player to join the exodus at the Dubai Open yesterday as she retired from her match, while Amanda Anisimova and Mirra Andreeva both won to set up a quarter-final meeting.

Australian Open champion and top seed Rybakina was forced to call it a day in her last-16 match due to gastrointestinal issues at the start of the third set against Croatian lucky loser Antonia Ruzic.

The Kazakh joins other high-profile players, including the world’s top two Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek as well as Victoria Mboko and Barbora Krejcikova, in retiring or withdrawing from the WTA 1000 event.

Ruzic, who in the first round eliminated 2021 US Open winner Emma Raducanu, has reached the first WTA 1000 quarter-final of her career.

“It was actually a crazy story that I got in as a lucky loser because I lost the first round of qualification,” Ruzic said.

“A lot of girls had amazing runs from the lucky losers because you get a second chance so you have nothing to lose anymore. You can just show your best tennis.  I’m happy with how I played today.”