Top seeds breeze into last-16 of Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

The WTA1000 week heated up on Tuesday as a raft of seeds booked early passage to the Round of 16 at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

With nine matches played in daylight hours on day three, world no. 4 Coco Gauff defeated Anna Kalinskaya 6-4, 6-4 in little more than an hour and a half.

As swirling winds blustered across Centre Court, conditions for both players were challenging, with momentum resembling a pendulum.

It was the third seeded American, however, that prevailed against an opponent who beat her enroute to the 2024 final.

“It wasn’t the prettiest win, but it was enough for today,” said Gauff, before addressing the gusts of air that caused havoc for both players.

Gauff will face Elise Mertens in the last 16, after the Belgian dispatched 14th seed Emma Navarro 6-2, 6-2 in only 75 minutes on New Court 1 earlier in the day.

Also on Centre Court, fourth seed Jessica Pegula made quick work of French qualifier Varvara Gracheva, requiring just 70 minutes to race home 6-4, 6-0.

World no. 5 Pegula’s win sets up an all-American clash with talented young compatriot Iva Jovic, who saw off Diana Shnaider 6-4, 1-6, 6-0.

On Court 2, last year’s defeated Dubai finalist Carla Tauson continued her fine form with a trouble-free 6-2, 6-4 win over the USA’s Peyton Stearns.

After eliminating Sofia Kenin – the 2020 Australian Open champion – in the first round, Tauson’s reward is an eagerly anticipated contest against Poland’s seed-extinguisher Magda Linette, who ousted world no. 12 Ekaterina Alexandrova, the No. 8 seed, in a 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 rollercoaster.

Meanwhile, 2019 Dubai champion Belinda Bencic also progressed to the last 16 after receiving a walkover due to the injury enforced withdrawal of Czech wildcard Sara Bejlek.

Fifth seed Mirra Andreeva also received a walkover after Russian-Australian Daria Kasatkina withdrew from their match before play.

Andreeva, the reigning champion, will play Jaqueline Cristian in the last 16 after the Romanian progressed past qualifier Ella Seide, who retired after losing the first set 6-0.

Antonia Ruzic, the lucky loser that sent British star Emma Raducanu packing on Monday evening, maintained her solid form to progress.

The Croatian saw off Anastasia Zakharova, 6-1, 6-7, 6-1, to complete a second three-set epic in under 24 hours, and book a clash with top seed Elena Rybakina, who defeated Australian qualifier Kimberly Birrell 6-1, 6-2.