Sabalenka downs Jabeur in Abu Dhabi

World No.10 Aryna Sabalenka extended her winning streak to 12 consecutive matches as she beat Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Abu Dhabi WTA Women’s Tennis Open.

After a series of opening set rallies Sabalenka eased away at 2-2 t take there first set with some comfort.

Jabeur bounced back in the second set, breaking Sabalenka twice to take a 3-2 lead.

But errors forced her on to the back foot as back-to-back double faults gave the Belarusian her chance to level and then jump in front, winning g eight of the final 10 points to book the quarterfinal against either No.6 seed Elena Rybakina or Daria Kasatkina.

In the first match on Court 1, Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk beat Slovenian world No 87 Tamara Zidansek 6-1, 6-1 in 53 minutes.

Sunday’s order of play
Centre Court

Aryna Sabalenka (4) bt Ons Jabeur (15) – 6-2, 6-4

Daria Kasatkina v Elena Rybakina (6)

Maria Sakkari (9) v Garbine Muguruza (5)

Sofia Kenin (1) v Yulia Putintseva

Ekaterina Alexandrova v Elina Svitolina (2)

Court 1

Marta Kostyuk bt Tamara Zidansek – 6-1, 6-1

Sara Sorribes Tormo v Anastasia Gasanova

Paula Badosa v Veronika Kudermetova