Sabalenka battles beyond Kudermetova

Aryna Sabalenka progressed to the last 16 of the Dubai Tennis Championships with a battling victory over Veronika Kudermetova.

World number one Sabalenka suffered a shock defeat at the Qatar Open last week, losing to Ekaterina Alexandrova.

But she responded with a hard-fought win over Kudermetova on Tuesday, prevailing 6-3 6-4 in a little under two hours.

Sabalenka was made to work for her victory, having to recover from a break down in the opening set.

The 26-year-old also squandered her first match point, sending a volley wide, and risked a double fault when she sent a poor first serve into the next on her second chance of sealing victory.

Yet Sabalenka recovered with a brilliant second serve to seal her progress.

13 - Aryna Sabalenka is the player with the most matches played against qualifiers/lucky losers in the last three years without ever losing (13). Routine.#DDFTennis | @DDFTennis @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/bBsYEqcTbu

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) February 18, 2025

Data Debrief: Lucky 13

Sabalenka has now played 13 matches against qualifiers or lucky losers over the past three years.

She has not lost one of those encounters, making her the player on the WTA Tour with the most such victories in that time.

The top seed was not at her best on Tuesday, but finished with just one double fault and three aces, as well as saving six of the eight break points she offered up.