The action at the WTA Dubai continues on Friday as the eight players remaining in the draw will seek a place in the semifinals. There have already been a number of high-profile upsets so far in Dubai, most notably the defeat of world #1 Naomi Osaka in the second-round at the hands of Kristina Mladenovic. That appears to have opened the gates for one of her rivals to claim a statement win, but no one left in the running can be discounted. Who will reach the last four?
Karolina Pliskova vs Su-Wei Hseih (first on Centre Court)
Czech fourth seed Karolina Pliskova has made an excellent start to the season, highlighted by reaching the Australian Open semifinals. And so far in Dubai, she has maintained that high level, first battling past Dominika Cibulkova 6-2 3-6 6-3 before edging out Alison Riske 7-6 7-6. But the tricky Su-Wei Hseih will provide a stern test. Hseih has scored a number of big wins over the past eighteen months, including over then-world #1 Simona Halep in the third round at Wimbledon last year. But Pliskova should have just enough power and poise to progress.
Pliskova in three
Petra Kvitova vs Viktoria Kuzmova (second on Centre Court)
In the first meeting between this pair, world #3 Petra Kvitova will take on the unheralded Viktoria Kuzmova for a place in the WTA Dubai semifinals. Kvitova, who won the Sydney International before reaching the final at the Australian Open, is a player in fine form and she will surely fancy her chances against Kuzmova. But the 20-year-old Slovakian has already beaten seventh seed Kiki Bertens and Sofia Kenin, the Hobart champion, this week. That being said, she did have to work extremely hard for those victories which begs the question: how much does she have left in the tank?
Kvitova in two
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Simona Halep vs Belinda Bencic (third on Centre Court)
In their third meeting overall, but first since 2015, world #2 Simona Halep will take on Belinda Bencic of Switzerland. They split their previous two clashes and both have reasons to feel confident ahead of this match. Halep has been in good form of late and last week reached the final in Qatar, though she was narrowly beaten there by Elise Mertens. Bencic, meanwhile, saved six match points to edge out Aryna Sabalenka in the third round. But as impressive as that performance once, it is hard to see Bencic delivering another major upset just a day later.
Halep in three
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Elina Svitolina vs Carla Suarez Navarro (fourth on Centre Court)
Sixth seed and former champion Elina Svitolina has been playing excellent tennis so far this week, winning both her matches in straight sets, albeit courtesy of a retirement in the first round. But she may have her work cut out for against Carla Suarez Navarro. The Spaniard proved too strong for Mladenovic in the third round, winning 7-5 7-5 against a player who had just beaten the world #1. She has also won four of her previous seven meetings with Svitolina. Expect Suarez Navarro to claim win number five at the WTA Dubai.
Suarez Navarro in three
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