On a day packed with drama and unexpected twists at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, it was Antonia Ruzic who stole the spotlight, making the most of her second chance in a way no one could have predicted. The 23-year-old Croatian, who arrived in Dubai as a lucky loser after falling in the opening round of qualifying, now finds herself in her maiden WTA 1000 quarterfinal—a feat that just days ago seemed out of reach.
Ruzic’s journey to the final eight is a tale of resilience, opportunity, and seizing the moment. After losing to Rebeka Masarova in qualifying, despite holding six match points, Ruzic stuck around for doubles, not knowing fate would soon intervene. When a spot opened in the main draw, she signed in and, as she put it, “Sometimes you have to take the second chances. A lot of girls had amazing runs from the lucky losers because you get a second chance so you have nothing to lose anymore. You can just show your best tennis. I’m happy with how I played today.” (Ruzic, post-match media).
Her third-round clash against top seed and reigning Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina was already a headline-grabber. Rybakina, who had claimed her second Grand Slam title just weeks prior, looked to be the favorite on paper. But the match was anything but routine. Ruzic broke early, setting the tone and forcing Rybakina to dig deep. The first set was a see-saw battle; Rybakina’s experience shone through as she strung together eight consecutive points to steal it 7-5.
Yet, Ruzic refused to fold. She snatched an early break in the second set and held her nerve to close it out 6-4, leveling the match and ramping up the tension inside the stadium. Momentum seemed to be with the Croatian, and as the third set began, she broke Rybakina’s serve again. But then, the match took a sudden, unfortunate turn.
Rybakina, who had been fighting not just her opponent but also her own body, called for the tournament doctor. She had warned before the event that she was battling a cold and arrived in Dubai with “little to spare.” As the score stood at 7-5, 4-6, 0-1 in Ruzic’s favor, Rybakina, visibly fatigued and suffering from nausea and a headache, made the difficult decision to retire. “I’m going to stop,” she told the medical staff, before walking to the net to shake Ruzic’s hand.
“I was surprised because I didn’t notice any signs that she wasn’t feeling well,” Ruzic later said. “It’s obviously not the way you want to win but I’m happy that I’m through. It’s a crazy story that I got in as a lucky loser and now I’m at this stage, sometimes you just have to take your second chances and I’ve been playing like I’ve got nothing to lose.” (Ruzic, post-match interview)
Ruzic’s improbable run didn’t start with Rybakina. In the opening round, she dispatched 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, marking her first win over a Grand Slam champion in the tournament. With her latest victory, she now boasts two such scalps in a single week—no small feat for a player ranked No. 67 in the world and entering as a last-minute addition.
The Croatian’s path forward won’t get any easier. She’s set to face Elina Svitolina, who outlasted Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic in a three-set thriller, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. Svitolina, herself a two-time Dubai champion, looked to be in trouble early but stormed back with a dominant second set and rode the momentum through the decider. With both players fighting for a semifinal berth, anticipation is high for what’s next.
Ruzic’s story is unfolding against a backdrop of withdrawals and upsets that have left the Dubai draw wide open. The world’s top two players, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, withdrew before the tournament began, citing scheduling and physical concerns. Doha champion Karolina Muchova, finalist Victoria Mboko, semifinalist Maria Sakkari, and Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen also pulled out, leaving the field ripe for new faces to emerge.
“The season is really long, so it’s important to pace yourself,” Ruzic reflected. “Every player is different so it’s about doing things that suit your needs. We have seen a lot of withdrawals here which is disappointing, I’ve only had one week off so far this year, so I know how challenging it is for everyone.” (Ruzic, post-match press)
The day’s action wasn’t short on other highlights. Coco Gauff, the world No. 4, survived a scare against Elise Mertens, saving three match points to win 2-6, 7-6(9), 6-3 in a match defined by wild swings and a staggering 16 double faults from the American. “The whole match felt like it wasn’t going my way,” Gauff admitted. “It wasn’t the best, but I just tried to stay in it, and I did fight for every point. I’m happy I was able to get the result today. Elise is a great player, so I just had to stay settled. I knew I could win; it was just [a matter] if I could find my game. And I did a little bit at times, and sometimes I didn’t, but it’s okay.” (Gauff, post-match interview)
Jessica Pegula continued her consistent form with a straight-sets win over Iva Jovic, while Amanda Anisimova cruised past Janice Tjen 6-1, 6-3. Mirra Andreeva, the defending champion, overcame a shaky performance and 31 unforced errors to defeat Jaqueline Cristian 7-5, 6-3, admitting afterward, “Honestly, I feel my game was really far from perfect today. I’m just happy I could walk away from the court as a winner. It was really tough to play here today, I really struggled with conditions.”
Elsewhere, Alexandra Eala notched her second WTA 1000 quarterfinal with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Sorana Cirstea, while Clara Tauson dispatched Magda Linette 6-4, 6-2. The tournament, once stacked with top seeds, now brims with opportunity for the next wave of contenders.
As the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships head into the business end, all eyes are on Antonia Ruzic and her remarkable run. From the brink of elimination in qualifying to the quarterfinals of one of the tour’s biggest events, her story is a testament to perseverance and the unpredictable magic of tennis. With the field wide open, who knows how far this lucky loser can go?