Rybakina, Kasatkina win three-setters to move into Abu Dhabi final

Al Rawaah, Feb 11 (IANS) No.1 seed Elena Rybakina and No.7 Daria Kasatkina each won three-set semifinals to line up a championship showdown at the WTA 500 Abu Dhabi Open.2022 Wimbledon Champion Rybakina prevailed through three sets 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 against Liudmila Samsonova to book her spot in Sunday’s sold-out final, finally breaking her winless streak over her opponent.With her victory, World No.5 Rybakina earned her first tour-level win over 15th-ranked Samsonova. Samsonova had won all four of their previous professional meetings.Earlier, Kasatkina clinched her spot in the final after a three-set thriller against Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia.Kasatkina's 2-hour and 59-minute victory put Kasatkina into her second final of the season, having made her first in Adelaide last month. The victory is Kasatkina's first over a Top 20 opponent since defeating No.18 Karolina Pliskova at Eastbourne last summer.Rybakina and Kasatkina have split their four lifetime meetings. Rybakina prevailed in their most recent meeting, squeaking past Kasatkina 5-7, 7-5, 7-6(8) in last year's Montreal quarterfinals.--IANSbc/

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