By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, February 18, 2026Photo credit score: Lintao Zhang/Getty
High gamers proceed to fall from the Dubai draw and a fortunate loser has emerged as an enormous winner.
Fortunate loser Antonia Ruzic led top-seeded Elena Rybakina 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 when the Australian Open champion retired on account of obvious nausea-related sickness.
“It’s my first time as a fortunate loser, you’ve bought to take your second possibilities and I’m taking it,” Ruzic stated. “It’s actually not the way in which I needed to win. I hope Elena feels higher.”
World No. 67 Ruzic scored her second win over a Grand Slam champion on this Dubai draw following her 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 opening-round victory over 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu.
The 23-year-old Ruzic will face both former Olympic gold-medal champion Belinda Bencic or AO semifinalist Elina Svitolina for a semifinal spot.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Rybakina’s retirement makes her the newest star to depart the Dubai Obligation Free Tennis Championships draw.
The world’s high two-ranked gamers, No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 2 Iga Swiatek, withdrew earlier than the match started. Doha champion Karolina Muchova, Doha finalist Victoria Mboko, Doha semifinalist Maria Sakkari and Olympic gold-medal champion Zheng Qinwen additionally all withdrew from Dubai.
