Aryna Sabalenka’s first look since successful the Australian Open led to defeat by Croatia’s Donna Vekic on the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Sabalenka misplaced 12 of the final 13 video games as Croatia’s Vekic received 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-0 of their second-round match.
“The extent was so dangerous from me,” mentioned the Belarusian second seed.
World primary Iga Swiatek, who took the Doha title final week, received 6-4 6-4 in opposition to Sloane Stephens, whereas third seed Coco Gauff additionally progressed.
Gauff, who turns 20 subsequent month, received 6-1 7-5 in opposition to Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto, nevertheless it was removed from simple to shut out for the US Open champion.
With service video games proving tough for each gamers, Gauff was unable to see out victory at 5-4 however immediately broke again for 6-5 and ended a run of six successive breaks to take her second alternative.
Gauff will face in-form Czech Karolina Pliskova within the final 16, whereas Swiatek meets Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina with the prospect to avenge a defeat within the Wimbledon quarter-finals final 12 months.
The highest eight seeds acquired first-round byes in Dubai, which means 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina was among the many host of WTA stars taking part in their opening match on Tuesday.
Rybakina, who received a title in Abu Dhabi earlier than ending runner-up to Swiatek in Doha, dropped the primary set in opposition to Victoria Azarenka however received the second earlier than the Belarusian needed to give up by harm.
The Kazakh fourth seed performs Poland’s Magdalena Frech subsequent, whereas Vekic’s reward is a gathering with Romania’s Sorana Cirstea.