Tennis Roundup: Donna Vekic takes Aryna Sabalenka scalp in Round 2

Dubai, February 20

Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka fell to a 6-7(5) 6-3 6-0 second-round defeat by Donna Vekic on her return to action at the Dubai Tennis Championships today.

Sabalenka, who won her second Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park last month, looked on track for a routine victory after the Belarusian edged a tight opening set and grabbed an early break in the next but Vekic had other ideas.

“At all times I didn’t give up,” said the 27-year-old Vekic, who is ranked 31 in the world. “I didn’t stop believing I could win. I just kept fighting. I told my coach I’m taking this week as half holidays. I can tell you I spent more time on the beach than on the court. Maybe that’s a good way going forward.”

Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova was made to work hard by American Peyton Stearns before sealing a 6-1 5-7 6-2 victory, before in-form former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko eased past Swiss Lulu Sun 6-3 6-3. Brisbane and Abu Dhabi champion Elena Rybakina advanced to the Round of 16 after former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka was forced to retire with an injury before the third set after her Kazakh opponent levelled the match at 4-6 6-2.

Eighth seed Maria Sakkari snapped a run of three straight defeats with a 6-2 6-4 win over American Emma Navarro and will take on Jasmine Paolini, who beat Leylah Fernandez 6-3 6-4. — Reuters

Nagal, Ramanathan enter pre-quarterfinals

Pune: Top seed Sumit Nagal and wildcard Ramkumar Ramanathan entered the pre-quarterfinals of the ATP Challenger 100 international tournament after winning their respective matches here today. Nagal defeated Chinese Taipei’s Yu Hsiou Hsu 7-6(6) 6-4 at the centre court. Ramanathan scored a 7-6(5) 7-6(5) win over 160th-ranked Stefano Napolitano, who won the Bengaluru Open last week.