Polish tennis player Magda Linette caused a major upset at the prestigious WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai. The Poznań native defeated the eighth-seeded Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova in three sets. Despite the absence of world number one Iga Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka, the competition in the United Arab Emirates is full of excitement. In the next round, Linette will face the talented Dane Clara Tauson, fighting for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Linette's triumph over the favorite

Magda Linette defeated the eighth-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova 6:2, 4:6, 6:1, advancing to the round of 16 in Dubai.

Wave of tournament withdrawals

As many as 18 players withdrew from the WTA 1000 event, including Iga Świątek and world number one Aryna Sabalenka.

Quarterfinal showdown

On Wednesday, February 18, Magda Linette will face the Dane Clara Tauson in the fight for a spot in the tournament's top eight.

Magda Linette continues her successful run on the courts in Dubai. After a first-round victory over Lulu Sun, on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the Polish player faced a much tougher challenge. Her opponent was Ekaterina Alexandrova, ranked 10th in the WTA rankings. The match began with complete dominance by the 34-year-old Pole, who broke her opponent's serve twice in the first set and won it 6:2. The second set was more balanced, and the Russian managed to recover and win 6:4. The deciding third set saw Linette take the initiative again, winning it convincingly 6:1. This victory is even more valuable as the Dubai tournament is grappling with a wave of withdrawals from top players. Among those who withdrew are Iga Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka. Organizers have recorded 18 withdrawals before the start and numerous retirements during the competition, which experts attribute to the exhausting tournament schedule. Elena Rybakina is trying to take advantage of this situation; with good results, she has a chance to advance to the world number two ranking. Rybakina confidently defeated Kimberly Birrell in her first match 6:1, 6:2. The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, held since 2001, has become one of the most important events in the tennis calendar in the Middle East, promoting the region as a global center for sports and tourism. Magda Linette's next opponent will be Clara Tauson. The Dane, considered one of the biggest talents of the young generation, has previously eliminated higher-ranked opponents and is in excellent form. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, February 18. The stakes of the duel will be advancement to the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 tournament. Polish fans are hoping for another display of determination from the Poznań tennis player, who has been impressing with her mental resilience in decisive moments of matches in the United Arab Emirates.Matches of Polish players in the 2nd round of WTA Dubai: Magda Linette 2:1 E. Alexandrova; Magdalena Fręch 0:2 Opponent12. — the highest ranking Clara Tauson, the Pole's next opponent, has held

Mentioned People

  • Magda Linette — Polish tennis player who advanced to the third round of the tournament in Dubai.
  • Ekaterina Alexandrova — Russian tennis player, seeded eighth, defeated by Linette.
  • Clara Tauson — Danish tennis player, the next opponent of Magda Linette.