Thu Feb 06 13:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Jabeur Advances in Abu Dhabi, Setting Up Wimbledon Rematch
**Abu Dhabi, UAE** – Ons Jabeur of Tunisia advanced to the quarterfinals of the WTA 500 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open after defeating 17-year-old qualifier Wakana Sonobe of Japan in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. The victory sets up a highly anticipated rematch with top seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, a repeat of their 2022 Wimbledon final. Jabeur holds a 3-2 head-to-head advantage over Rybakina, having triumphed in their last encounter at Wimbledon 2023.
Jabeur, the former World No. 2, commented on the match, noting the challenges of facing young, left-handed players. She expressed satisfaction with her performance and her continued recovery from a shoulder injury that sidelined her for several months. This quarterfinal appearance marks Jabeur’s second of the year, following a similar run in Brisbane.
Sonobe, who recently won the Australian Open junior girls’ singles title, put up a strong fight, particularly in the second set where she secured an early break. However, Jabeur’s experience and skill ultimately proved decisive.
The tournament also saw significant upsets in the second round. Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic defeated No. 2 seed Paula Badosa of Spain 6-4, 6-1, while American Ashlyn Krueger upset No. 3 seed Daria Kasatkina 1-6, 7-5, 6-4. These victories highlight the unpredictable nature of the competition and showcase the rising talent on the WTA Tour. Noskova’s win marked her seventh career Top 10 victory, and Krueger’s her first win over Kasatkina. The article also included a separate unrelated section about Madison Keys winning a Grand Slam tournament.
First Piper 