IT WAS chaos for seeded players everywhere in Abu Dhabi, with the Round of 16 seeing four higher ranked chances bow out and another on the ropes before turning it around. The most comprehensive wins of those upsets went to young Czech Linda Noskova who stormed pst second seed and world number 10 Paula Badosa with a comfortable 6-4 6-1 result in the Middle East.

In an incredible result for the 20-year-old, she rose four spots in the world rankings to 35th, and edged closer to her career-best effort of last August, 25th. In the win over the Spaniard, Noskova hit 31 winners to 12 while still maintaining the same amount of unforced errors (18). She served at a ridiculously high level (76 per cent) and capitalised on her chances.

Noskova won 63 and 60 per cent of her points off her first and second serve, and only faced three break points, saving one. On the other hand, she set up nine opportunities off the second seed’s serve, converting six during the 6-4 6-1, 68-minute demolition.

The victory marked Noskova’s seventh Top 10 win of her career and first of 2025, as the Czech hopes to add another WTA 500 title to her CV to join that of her Monterrey trophy from 2024. With another surprise result in the draw, Noskova faces unseeded Pole Magda Linette for a spot in the semi-finals.

Linette got through to the last eight after Russian sixth seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova was forced to retire after winning the first set but going down 1-4 in the second. Joining the two seeds out of the tournament was third seeded Russian Daria Kasatkina who went down fighting after an outstanding first set, losing to American Ashlyn Krueger, 1-6 7-5 6-4.

In other results former world number two Ons Jabeur got past 17-year-old Japanese qualifier Wakana Sonobe, defeating the left-hander and 2025 Australian Open Junior Girls champion 6-3 6-3 in 74 minutes.

Meanwhile top seed Elena Rybakina fought from a set down to oust Katie Volynets 2-6 6-4 6-3, Swiss wildcard Belinda Bencic double-bagelled lucky loser Veronika Kudermetova, Canadian Leylah Fernandez brushed passed New Zealand’s Lulu Sun, and former Grand Slam winner and wildcard Marketa Vondrousova took down fourth seed Yulia Putintseva easily, 6-2 6-3.

2025 ABU DHABI WTA 500 – ROUND OF 16 RESULTS:

[1] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) defeated [Q] Katie Volynets (USA) 2-6 6-4 6-4
Linda Noskova (CZE) defeated [2] Paula Badosa (ESP) 6-4 6-1
Ashlyn Krueger (USA) defeated [3] Daria Kasatkina (RUS) 1-6 7-5 6-4
[WC] Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) defeated [4] Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) 6-2 6-3
Magda Linette (POL) defeated [6] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 5-7 4-1 RET
[8] Leylah Fernandez (CAN) defeated Lulu Sun (NZL) 6-0 6-3
Ons Jabeur (TUN) defeated [Q] Wakana Sonobe (JPN) 6-3 6-3
[WC] Belinda Bencic (SUI) defeated [LL] Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) 6-0 6-0

QUARTER FINALS:

[1] Elena Rybakina vs. Ons Jabeur (TUN)
[WC] Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) vs. [WC] Belinda Bencic (SUI)
[8] Leylah Fernandez (CAN) vs. Ashlyn Kreuger (USA)
Magda Linette (POL) vs. Linda Noskova (CZE)