Rybakina overcomes Samsonova challenge to set up Kasatkina affair in Abu Dhabi final

Top seed Elena Rybakina got off to a fast start before defeating Russian Liudmila Samsonova 6-0 4-6 6-2 in the Abu Dhabi Open semi-finals on Saturday, setting up an intriguing title match against Daria Kasatkina.

The former Wimbledon champion, looking for her second title of the season after winning in Brisbane, sailed through the first set in double quick time thanks to her big serve and powerful groundstrokes.

However, eighth seed Samsonova had other plans and led 4-1 in the second set, mixing up her power game with deft drop shots before leveling at one set apiece to keep hopes of a fifth win over the Moscow-born Kazakh alive.

Rybakina increased the pressure and took a break in the fourth game of the decider after Samsonova committed an untimely double fault, and there was no looking back as the world number five won the match.

"It was a really tough battle," Rybakina said. "Really happy I managed to win in the end. I started pretty well. A few shots went my way. It was going really well."

"In the second set the focus and energy went down a bit. Liudmila always plays very aggressive. It's not easy to play against her."

Earlier, seventh seed Kasatkina overcame a mid-match blip to advance to her second final of the season with a 6-3 4-6 7-6(2) win over Beatriz Haddad Maia in an absorbing match that lasted nearly three hours.

"Beatriz is a huge fighter, one of the biggest on tour. Her level of giving everything on court is just incredible. She was not giving me anything for free. I had to earn this," Kasatkina said after an 83-minute final set.

"Really happy and a bit exhausted, but it was a great match. I hope everyone enjoyed it."

The Russian dropped serve twice in the first set, but took advantage of her sixth-seeded opponent's struggles to break four times and gain an early lead in the match.

Haddad Maia regained her rhythm, however, and led 4-2 in the following set before Adelaide runner-up Kasatkina squandered an opportunity to level the match, allowing the 27-year-old to force a decider.

The breaks continued to flow in the final set, with never-ending rallies, but Kasatkina raised her game in the tiebreak to defeat Haddad Maia.

Rybakina said she expected another difficult match against Kasatkina.

"A complete different style of the game. Tomorrow isn't going to be easy," Rybakina added. "I have to have really good footwork and play aggressively."

SportsLigue