Rybakina the latest player to retire in Dubai as Anisimova & Gauff advance

[p]Australian Open champion and top seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rybakina-elena/UDzElXdm/"]Rybakina[/a] was [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/ruzic-a-MuT7l0nb/rybakina-e-UDzElXdm/?mid=AwNVyoqf"]forced to call it a day in her last-16 match[/a] due to gastrointestinal issues at the start of the third set against Croatian lucky loser [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ruzic-antonia/MuT7l0nb/"]Antonia Ruzic[/a].[/p][p]The Kazakh joins other high-profile players, including the world's top two [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Aryna Sabalenka[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/swiatek-iga/jNyZsXZe/"]Iga Swiatek[/a], as well as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mboko-victoria/AqVez8TJ/"]Victoria Mboko[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/krejcikova-barbora/2FyACZYi/"]Barbora Krejcikova[/a], in retiring or withdrawing from the WTA 1000 event.[/p][p]Ruzic, who in the first round eliminated 2021 US Open winner [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raducanu-emma/YmIZde1B/"]Emma Raducanu[/a], has reached the first WTA 1000 quarter-final of her career.[/p][p][b]"It was actually a crazy story that I got in as a lucky loser because I lost the first round of qualification,"[/b] Ruzic said.[/p][p][b]"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."[/b][/p][embed guid="bc0d67a4-8918-4f27-914f-79f6ddfa50bc" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2024102047134409203?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The 23-year-old world number 67 will face seventh seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/monfils-elina/jyngIesG/"]Elina Svitolina[/a] for a spot in the last four after the Ukrainian beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bencic-belinda/ObGlDvu0/"]Belinda Bencic[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/bencic-b-ObGlDvu0/svitolina-e-jyngIesG/?mid=YcJtbXkS"]4-6, 6-1, 6-3[/a].[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/anisimova-amanda/nwkutKbi/"]Anisimova[/a], 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 [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tjen-janice/ngVYO2lo/"]Janice Tjen[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/anisimova-a-nwkutKbi/tjen-j-ngVYO2lo/?mid=rglWzMm2"]6-1, 6-3[/a] to book a last-eight spot.[/b][/p][p]There she will meet defending champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/andreeva-mirra/lI6fOOat/"]Andreeva[/a], who defeated [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cristian-jaqueline/vo9FVe2A/"]Jaqueline Cristian[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/andreeva-m-lI6fOOat/cristian-j-a-vo9FVe2A/?mid=Y1strQWH"]7-5, 6-3[/a].[/p][p]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.[/p][p][b]"Honestly, I feel my game was really far from perfect today,"[/b] Andreeva said.[/p][p][b]"I was tense, I was nervous, I cared a lot about every single point that I was playing and sometimes I was really scared to miss.[/b][/p][p][b]"Tomorrow (Thursday) is probably going to be better, because I'm going to get into the rhythm... I'm looking forward to getting that revenge!"[/b][/p][embed guid="83ab9a23-4c99-4d0b-a9e3-c39cd246bfb4" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2024070561807081503?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Andreeva's only previous meeting with Anisimova ended in defeat in the Miami Open third round last year.[/p][p][b]Third seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gauff-coco/f5BXmEH6/"]Coco Gauff[/a] saved three match points as she fought back to win [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/gauff-c-f5BXmEH6/mertens-e-Y1ZrrUtl/?mid=v3rioaVr"]2-6, 7-6(9), 6-3[/a] against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mertens-elise/Y1ZrrUtl/"]Elise Mertens[/a] and will meet either Alexandra Eala or Sorana Cirstea in the next round.[/b][/p][p]American [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pegula-jessica/KdojxrAR/"]Jessica Pegula[/a] eliminated her 18-year-old compatriot [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jovic-iva/bmWvBlnL/"]Iva Jovic[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/jovic-i-bmWvBlnL/pegula-j-KdojxrAR/?mid=hOuQo8Xh"]6-4, 6-2[/a] and will next face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tauson-clara/2PPTHPya/"]Clara Tauson[/a] following [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/linette-m-vXvzyRlq/tauson-c-2PPTHPya/?mid=O0F3Nld4"]the Dane's victory[/a] by the same scoreline against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/linette-magda/vXvzyRlq/"]Magda Linette[/a].[/p]