Italian star Sara Errani and Ukranian Barbora Strycova won their semi-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 2016 against Elina Svitolina and Caroline Garcia, respectively.
Errani ended the winning streak of 21-year-old Elina Svitolina from Ukraine 6-4, 6-4 on Friday, reports Xinhua.
Errani, 28, who ranks 22nd in the WTA, told Xinhua after the quarter-finals that she does not think too much about the game or the set, "but I always fight for the next point and fight for every ball."
France's Caroline Garcia, who is ranked 15th, and Strycova, ranked 48th, delivered a breathtaking semi-final on the center court of the not very crowded Dubai Duty Free Tennis stadium at the Aviation Club which the Ukrainian won 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
Strycova, dressed completely in yellow, said after the match: "In the last games I threw all my energy on the court. I made three good services and it is amazing to be in the final. I had nothing to lose."
"I will give my best and I try to enjoy it. I still have energy left in my legs," she said.
Strycova, aged 29 and 10 centimeters smaller than her 1.74-meter tall French opponent, fell to the ground in the third set at 1-1 for a net fight but managed to keep her spirit and playing speed high throughout the match.