Aveva già sofferto ai sedicesimi, nei quali aveva sconfitto in tre set Veronika Kudermetova (34), e il secondo impegno a Dubai si è rivelato fatale per Belinda Bencic (12). Nel giorno del suo 24o compleanno l'elvetica, poco lucida nei momenti decisivi del match, si è infatti arresa con il punteggio di 6-1 2-6 7-5 all'altra russa Anastasia Potapova (88).
Nel primo, complicato set la Bencic ha subito il break nei suoi due primi turni di battuta. In seguito la sangallese, che ha vinto la seconda frazione firmando due break nel sesto e nell'ottavo game, non ha più perso il servizio fino al momento chiave dell'incontro, quell'11o gioco del terzo set che ha visto la Potapova conquistare il vantaggio decisivo per la vittoria finale.
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