Angelique Kerber ousts Karolina Pliskova to reach Dubai semi-finals

Angelique Kerber advanced to her third semi-final of the calendar year by beating Karolina Pliskova at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Germany’s Kerber has previously made the last four in two recent tournaments in Australia and continued her run in Dubai courtesy of a 6-4 6-3 success.

Her next opponent will be top seed and defending champion Elina Svitolina after she beat wildcard Naomi Osaka 6-2 6-4.

In the other semi-final Garbine Muguruza will meet Daria Kasatkina, following their respective victories over Carolina Garcia and Elena Vesnina.

At the Hungarian Ladies Open, home hope and reigning champion Timea Babos was beaten in a tie-break by Mona Barthel, who triumphed 6-4 4-6 6-3.

Top seed Dominika Cibulkova overcame Kirsten Flipkens in straight sets while second seed Zhang Shuai also advanced, though she had to save two match points before eventually seeing off plucky qualifier Jana Cepelova.

Elsewhere in Budapest, Sweden’s Johanna Larsson and Belgium’s Ysaline Bonaventure were victorious.