Kasatkina stuns Konta in epic three-set battle in Dubai

In what was the best match and the longest match of the tournament, Russian sensation Daria Kasatkina stunned British seventh seed Johanna Konta 4-6 7-6 6-2 to storm into the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships quarterfinals on Wednesday night.

There was plenty of drama and skills from both players in the round of 16 clash that lasted two hours and five-nine minutes, one of the longest matches in the history of the Dubai Duty Free WTA tournament.

The Russian saved two match points at 4-6 in the second set tie-break and took the match to the decider with a stunning forehand winner at 9-7.

Then in the third set, the Russian broke the British thrice to earn her first victory over Konta.

"It was such a tough match. We spent like three hours on the court, but felt like one hour on a court because I was so much in the match," Kasatkina said after the match. "But now I feel a bit weird because it's done. It was such a big battle, such a big fight. So I'm just happy that I survived." Now, Kasatkina will take on her compatriot Elena Vesnina for a place in the semifinal on Thursday.

"I'm still young. Yeah, I have still some power, some energy. But, of course, we will see tomorrow because now I'm under adrenaline, so I don't feel anything. Actually, I'm ready to go and play another one!" Vesnina beat reigning French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-1 7-6 earlier on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, fifth seed Caroline Garcia of France also reached the quarterfinals with a straight-set (6-4 6-2) win over Russian Ekaterina Makarova on Court One.

rituraj@khaleejtimes.com

Results:

Centre Court

Singles

Centre Court

Singles

Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) beat Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) 5-7 6-2 6-4; Elena Vesnina (Russia) vs (WC) beat Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia) (4) 6-1 7-6; Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) (1) beat (LL) Qiang Wang (China) 6-1 5-7 6-2; Daria Kasatkina (Russia) beat (WC) Johanna Konta (Great Britain) (7) -6 7-6 6-2.

Court 1

Singles

(WC) Naomi Osaka (Japan) beat Anett Kontaveit (Estonia) 6-2 7-6; Angelique Kerber (Germany) (6) beat (Q) Sara Errani (Italy) 6-44 6-2; Caroline Garcia (France) (5) beat Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) 6-4 6-2

Doubles

Su-Wei Hsieh (Taipei)/Shuai Peng (China) (4) beat Nicole Melichar (US)/Kveta Peschke (Czech Republic) 6-4 0-6 10-7

Court 2

Doubles

Hao-Ching Chan (Taipei)/Zhaoxuan Yang (China) beat Andreja Klepac (Slovakia)/Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (Spain) 4-6 6-1 10-5; Ekaterina Makarova (Russia)/Elena Vesnina (Russia) (1) beat Miyu Kato (Japan)/Makoto Ninomiya (Japan) 6-4 6-1

Order of Play

Thursday

Centre Court

2pm

Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) (1) vs (WC) Naomi Osaka (Japan)

Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) (3) vs Angelique Kerber (Germany) (6)

Not before 7pm

Caroline Garcia (France) (5) vs (WC) Catherine Bellis (US) or Garbine Muguruza (Spain) (2)

Daria Kasatkina (Russia) vs Elena Vesnina (Russia)

Court 1

Doubles

Alicja Rosolska (Poland)/Abigail Spears (US) vs Latisha Chan (Taipei)/Andrea Sestini Hlavackova (Czech Republic) (2)