Bellis Stuns Radwanska to Reach Quarter-finals of Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

Dubai, UAE, February 23, 2017:  Teenager Catherine Bellis claimed a stunning 6-4 2-6 6-2 victory over fourth seed and former champion Agnieszka Radwanska to reach the quarter-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Another former champion, Caroline Wozniacki, fared better but struggled to overcome a spirited challenge from Kateryna Bondarenko 3-6 6-2 6-3.

'Whew, amazing. It's one of the best feelings in my life, for sure,' said 17-year old Bellis. 'I'm really happy about the outcome tonight. I was a little bit surprised. I mean, she's such an amazing player. It was probably not her best day. I think in the second set she started playing a little bit better. I went off a little bit. I think I was going for a little bit too much. I just told myself to stay calm and go back to my game and what I was doing in the first set. I told myself to really be as solid as possible, and then when I had a short ball to take advantage of it right away.'

In a replay of the Olympic Final, top seed and world number two Angelique Kerber met Monica Puig, and this time it was Kerber who came out on top. Despite the 6-2 6-3 score suggesting that it was a comfortable win for Kerber, it was instead a highly entertaining and competitive battle.

'I was feeling good from the first point,' said Kerber, who will return to number one if she wins the title on Saturday. 'It's always tough to play against Monica, especially after our last match. I'm really happy about how I played today. I think I was really trying to stay focused on every single point and trying to move good, bring a lot of balls back. Just, you know, thinking about my game, about my rhythm, and not thinking too much about my opponent tonight.'

Seventh seed Elina Svitolina faced defeat as she struggled to find her game against Christina Mchale, but managed to turn the match around to clinch a 4-6 6-4 6-3 victory.

'I think what I did well was fighting through myself and everything today, because I was not there for important points,' said Svitolina. 'But then in the second set when it was 3-4 down and she was serving, I was just trying to stay calm and to fight mentally and just to stay in each point and maybe wait for my chances and then try to take them. It was really tough today. Of course, it was some positive things, and the big one was that I fought until the end and I didn't give up. I didn't go for crazy shots. I was trying to move my feet even though it was very long rallies and I was very tired.'

Dubai debutant Lauren Davis is also into the quarter-finals after overcoming Ekaterina Makarova 4-6 6-1 6-3, but Kristina Mladenovic was unable to build upon her Tuesday upset of second seed Karolina Pliskova as she was defeated 6-1 6-4 by Qiang Wang. Eighth seed Elina Vesnina was beaten 3-6 6-4 7-6(4) by Ana Konjuh, and Anastasija Sevastova ended the run of wild card Shuai Peng 6-4 6-3.

'The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships has often been a successful tournament for rising stars, and today we have seen several make their mark here,' said Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free, the tournament owners and organisers. 'Catherine Bellis was especially impressive in defeating our 2012 champion Agnieszka Radwanska, and it will be interesting to see if she can go further into the tournament this week.'

Tournament director Salah Tahlak added, 'The pace is hotting up as the remaining players strive to claim one of the most coveted trophies on the WTA Tour, and there are plenty of intriguing battles still to come. History, and today, has shown that no player is safe from an upset and we look forward to seeing who will survive to contest Saturday's final.'

Play in the WTA event continues until 25th February, and the tournament continues between 27th February and 4th March with the 25th staging of the ATP World Tour event which includes Wimbledon, Olympic and ATP World Tour Finals champion and world number one Andy Murray, Australian Open champion and seven-time Dubai winner Roger Federer, defending Dubai champion Stan Wawrinka, two-time Dubai finalist Tomas Berdych and the entertaining Gael Monfils.

The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is owned and 'organised by Dubai Duty Free, and held under the patronage of H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Tickets are still available from the Box Office at the Dubai Tennis Stadium, Garhoud which opens from 9am to 9pm daily.