Kartal beats lucky loser after Bencic withdraws

Great Britain’s Sonay Kartal beat lucky loser Renata Zarazua to reach the last eight of the Abu Dhabi Open after original opponent – and defending champion – Belinda Bencic withdrew through illness.

World number nine Bencic became the first mother to win a WTA singles title since May 2023 when she beat Ashlyn Krueger in last year’s final just four months after returning from maternity leave.

Kartal, who came through two qualifying matches before beating Spain’s Cristina Busca in round one, was on court for just 57 minutes as she overcame Mexico’s Zarazua 6-0 6-3.

The British number two and world number 61 will face 20-year-old Czech Sara Bejlek in the quarter-finals.

Fellow Briton Katie Boulter reached the last eight at the Ostrava Open with a straight-sets victory over Swiss fifth seed Viktorija Golubic.

Boulter, 29, dropped just two games in each set to set up a meeting with either fourth seed Rebecca Sramkova or Linda Fruhvirtova.