DUBAI: Elena Rybakina was the latest player to join the exodus at the Dubai Open on Wednesday 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.

The 23-year-old world number 67 will face seventh seed Elina Svitolina for a spot in the last four after the Ukrainian beat Belinda Bencic 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.

Anisimova, the second seed, played her first ma­tch of the tournament after getting a bye through the first round and a walkover in the second as she beat Janice Tjen in straight sets to book a last eight spot.

There she will meet defending champion Andreeva, who defeated Jaqueline Cristian 7-5, 6-3.

It was also the 18-year-old fifth seed’s first match of her title defence after similarly receiving a bye and a walkover earlier in the week.

Andreeva’s only previous meeting with Anisimova ended in defeat in the Miami Open third round last year.

Third seed Coco Gauff saved three match points as she fought back to win 2-6, 7-6 (11/9), 6-3 against Elise Mertens and will meet Alexandra Eala, who saw off Sorana Cirstea in straight sets, in the next round.

American Jessica Pegula eliminated her 18-year-old compatriot Iva Jovic 6-4, 6-2 and will next face Clara Tauson following the Dane’s victory by the same scoreline against Magda Linette.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2026