Rybakina advances to Doha quarter-finals

DOHA, Feb 12 (AFP): Elena Rybakina progressed to the Doha Open quarter-finals on Wednesday with a 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 win over Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova.

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.

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.