beaten by Krejcikova, Sabalenka loses for the first time this season in Dubai

Crowned at the Australian Open, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka conceded her first defeat of the season Thursday in the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai against Czech Barbora Krejcikova 0-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-1. The World No.2’s streak of 13 straight victories came to an end despite a hot start in the first set and a 3-1 lead in the second set.

The 24-year-old will now return home to Miami before heading to Indian Wells, a tournament which begins on March 8. “There will probably be less attention (now that the series is over). It does not matterSabalenka told AFP after his defeat.

“Barbora deserved it, she played great tennis and I will continue to work and improve (to) make sure I get a better result in Indian Wells“, she said. This is the first success of the Czech against Belarus for their third meeting. In the semi-finals, the 30th in the world will face the American Jessica Pegula, world No.3, qualified without playing due to the withdrawal of the Czech Karolina Muchova.