Top seed Polina Kudermetova is set to face the well-liked Alexandra Eala of the Philippines, while young Belgian qualifier Sofia Costoulas will take on British player Jodie Anna Burrage in the singles semifinals of the 27th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge on Saturday.
Kudermetova secured a 0-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory against the consistent Mei Yamaguchi of Japan, following Eala's grueling 2-hour and 12-minute match, where she defeated second Japanese player Kyoka Okamura 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. Meanwhile, promising Belgian Costoulas emerged victorious with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 win against Tatiana Prozorova, and Burrage was the only player to win in straight sets, clinching a 6-4, 6-4 result against lucky loser Amandine Hesse of France.
Kudermetova, the younger sister of former top-10 player Veronika, expressed her relief at winning a three-setter. 'I think I went to sleep in the first set. And by the time I woke up she (Yamaguchi) had already taken the lead. After that I decided to be focused on each and every ball, and that strategy somehow worked for me,' the 21-year-old said.
Eala, who has seen her fan base grow in Dubai, was thrilled with her comeback win against Okamura. 'I think I made the right adjustment to my game after that first set. I came into this match knowing fully well that this was going to be tough,' she admitted.
Burrage, who has made significant progress since her debut for Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup in November last year, is confident of maintaining her form against a younger opponent. 'I am happy and proud to get through with the quarterfinals. Right now it is just the next match in mind,' she said.
Saturday’s action will kick off with the doubles semifinals featuring the pairing of Anastasia Detiuc and Anastasia Tikhonova against Tatiana Prozorova and Tara Wurth, followed by the first singles semifinal between Sofia Costoulas and Julie Anna Burrage, and concluding with a potential epic clash between 2022 US Open Junior champion Eala and top seed Kudermetova.
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