Elena Rybakina was the latest player to join the exodus at the Dubai Open on Wednesday as she retired from her match, while Amanda Anisimova and Mirra Andreeva both won to set up a quarterfinal meeting.
Australian Open champion and top seed Rybakina was forced to call it a day in her last-16 match due to gastrointestinal issues at the start of the third set against Croatian lucky loser Antonia Ruzic.
Wishing Elena a speedy recovery 💚
— wta (@WTA) February 18, 2026
Antonia Ruzic advances to her first ever WTA 1000 quarterfinal as Rybakina retires, 5-7, 6-4, 1-0.#DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/ibfw4xGUAh
The Kazakh joins other high-profile players, including the world's top two Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek as well as Victoria Mboko and Barbora Krejcikova, in retiring or withdrawing from the WTA 1000 event.
Ruzic, who in the first round eliminated 2021 US Open winner Emma Raducanu, has reached the first WTA 1000 quarterfinal of her career.
"It was actually a crazy story that I got in as a lucky loser because I lost the first round of qualification," Ruzic said.
"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."
The 23-year-old world number 67 will face seventh seed Elina Svitolina for a spot in the last four after the Ukrainian beat Belinda Bencic 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Quarterfinals bound 🛫@ElinaSvitolina comes from a set down to defeat Bencic 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 and book her place in the last 8 👌#DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/ng5rN0cG4g
— wta (@WTA) February 18, 2026
Anisimova, 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 Janice Tjen in straight sets to book a last eight spot.
Into the last 8 👊
— wta (@WTA) February 18, 2026
Amanda Anisimova books her place in the quarterfinals with a straight sets win over Tjen.#DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/bc9PL03QRo
There she will meet defending champion Andreeva, who defeated Jaqueline Cristian 7-5, 6-3.
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.
The title defense continues for Mirra 💪#DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/kVrWp7BrnZ
— wta (@WTA) February 18, 2026
"Honestly, I feel my game was really far from perfect today," Andreeva said.
"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.
"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!"
First set locked in 🔒
— wta (@WTA) February 18, 2026
Mirra Andreeva takes a step closer to the quarterfinals, going up 7-5 against Cristian.#DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/vMmOfQbyXG
Andreeva's only previous meeting with Anisimova ended in defeat in the Miami Open third round last year.
Third seed Coco Gauff saved three match points as she fought back to win 2-6, 7-6 (11/9), 6-3 against Elise Mertens and will meet either Alexandra Eala or Sorana Cirstea in the next round.
American Jessica Pegula eliminated her 18-year-old compatriot Iva Jovic 6-4, 6-2 and will next face Clara Tauson following the Dane's victory by the same scoreline against Magda Linette.