Garbine Muguruza said her ability to “stay in the fight” made a big difference after the ninth seed continued her return to form by reaching the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Muguruza, 26, came through a tough contest against Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 in two hours and 25 minutes and will face American Jennifer Brady for a place in the semi-finals.
“There are a lot of things that I could have done better, but I'm excited that I gave myself another opportunity to be in the quarter-finals,” Muguruza said. “I was just staying in the fight, not giving up until the last point, because she was playing great.”
The start to this season has seen a welcome return to form for Muguruza, who began the year ranked No 36. A run to the Australian Open final has helped the former world No 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion returned to the top 20, and she remains on course for her first title since April last year.
She will need to maintain her form when she takes on a player who has so far reserved her best tennis for the top players this year. Brady has already eliminated two-time Dubai champion and third seed Elina Svitolina and French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova this week, having defeated world No 1 Ashleigh Barty in Brisbane last month.
“When you're in the quarter-finals, you're playing girls that are progressing through the tournament,” Muguruza said. [Brady] is playing good and I’m excited to play her for the first time to get to know her tennis.”
Second seed Karolina Pliskova also booked her place in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, but in far more comfortable fashion.
The Czech world No 3 was too strong for French qualifier Kristina Mladenovic in the first match on Centre Court, racing to a 6-1, 6-2 victory in just one hour and six minutes.
Reflecting on the biggest positives from her match, Pliskova said: “My attitude because I think I was not playing amazing but still, even when I didn’t win points or made some mistakes, I was still there. I didn’t give up.
“Although the score was easy, I could easily let myself think it’s already done. But she was still fighting in the second set. I think it was positive that I really stayed [focused] because she could make it difficult for me if I didn’t stay in the match.”
Pliskova will face the red-hot Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals after the world No 19 from Kazakhstan claimed a tour-leading 17th win of the season by beating Czech qualifier Katerina Siniakova 6-3, 6-3.
Croatian eighth seed Petra Martic also reached the last-eight with a 6-3, 6-3 win over another Czech, Barbora Strycova, which lasted one hour and 45 minutes.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Real Sociedad v Leganes (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Real Valladolid (4pm)
Valencia v Granada (7pm)
Eibar v Real Madrid (9.30pm)
Barcelona v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Sunday
Real Mallorca v Villarreal (3pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Levante (5pm)
Atletico Madrid v Espanyol (7pm)
Getafe v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Real Betis v Sevilla (midnight)
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Zidane's managerial achievements
La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017
MATCH INFO
Newcastle United 2 (Willems 25', Shelvey 88')
Manchester City 2 (Sterling 22', De Bruyne 82')
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
United States beat Scotland by 35 runs
UAE v Scotland – no result
United States beat UAE by 98 runs
Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
If you go...
Flying
There is no simple way to get to Punta Arenas from the UAE, with flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi requiring at least two connections to reach this part of Patagonia. Flights start from about Dh6,250.
Touring
Chile Nativo offers the amended Los Dientes trek with expert guides and porters who are met in Puerto Williams on Isla Navarino. The trip starts and ends in Punta Arenas and lasts for six days in total. Prices start from Dh8,795.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
The full list of 2020 Brit Award nominees (winners in bold):
British group
Coldplay
Foals
Bring me the Horizon
D-Block Europe
Bastille
British Female
Mabel
Freya Ridings
FKA Twigs
Charli xcx
Mahalia
British male
Harry Styles
Lewis Capaldi
Dave
Michael Kiwanuka
Stormzy
Best new artist
Aitch
Lewis Capaldi
Dave
Mabel
Sam Fender
Best song
Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber - I Don’t Care
Mabel - Don’t Call Me Up
Calvin Harrison and Rag’n’Bone Man - Giant
Dave - Location
Mark Ronson feat. Miley Cyrus - Nothing Breaks Like A Heart
AJ Tracey - Ladbroke Grove
Lewis Capaldi - Someone you Loved
Tom Walker - Just You and I
Sam Smith and Normani - Dancing with a Stranger
Stormzy - Vossi Bop
International female
Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish
Camila Cabello
Lana Del Rey
Lizzo
International male
Bruce Springsteen
Burna Boy
Tyler, The Creator
Dermot Kennedy
Post Malone
Best album
Stormzy - Heavy is the Head
Michael Kiwanuka - Kiwanuka
Lewis Capaldi - Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent
Dave - Psychodrama
Harry Styles - Fine Line
Rising star
Celeste
Joy Crookes
beabadoobee
