Elena Rybakina progressed to the Doha Open quarterfinals on Wednesday with a 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 win over Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova.
Elena Rybakina rebraiding her hair and she immediately starts playing better 😭 pic.twitter.com/zgEbHQJoQ3
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 12, 2025
The fifth seed from Kazakhstan battled inconsistency in the first set after racing into a 3-0 lead, failing to convert three set points in the 10th game before finally taking charge in the tie-break.
📂 Doha 2025
— wta (@WTA) February 12, 2025
📁 Elena Rybakina
📁 Forehand rocket#QatarTotalEnergiesOpen pic.twitter.com/gMkcu6F0rD
Former Wimbledon champion Rybakina broke world number 46 Sramkova to start the second set and won the first four games as she wrapped up victory in 84 minutes.
Rybakina could face three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek in the last eight. The Pole takes on Czech youngster Linda Noskova in the round of 16.
Rybakina's coach Stefano Vukov remains banned following the conclusion of an investigation, the WTA confirmed on Tuesday.
He was provisionally suspended last month for allegedly breaching the tour's code of conduct.
Four of the top 10 seeds fell on Tuesday as world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Zheng Qinwen and Paula Badosa all exited in the second round.