Rybakina sees off Stearns challenge in Qatar

Elena Rybakina was in fine form in her second-round matchup with Peyton Stearns at the Qatar Open, winning in straight sets to reach the last 16.

Rybakina, who was runner-up in Doha last year, took 73 minutes to wrap up her 6-2 6-4 victory over the 23-year-old American, who improved as the match went on.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion bulldozed her way to a 6-2 5-0 lead, hitting a series of excellent backhand winners to bring up her first three match points.

But Stearns would not be beaten that easily, fending those points off with some strong serving, then reeling off four successive games as she threatened to force a decider.

However, another heavy backhand proved decisive for Rybakina as she broke for the match, teeing up a last-16 clash with either Mirra Andreeva or Rebecca Sramkova.

Imposing at the net Rybakina quickly out of the blocks leading Stearns 4-1!#QatarTotalEnergiesOpen pic.twitter.com/LJUbycVHQN
— wta (@WTA) February 11, 2025

Jasmine Paolini also advanced to the round of 16 with a straight-sets win, fighting back from a break down in the second set to beat Caroline Garcia 6-3 6-4.

Last year's French Open runner-up will face Jelena Ostapenko in the next round, after she beat Liudmila Samsonova 7-6 (7-5) 7-5.

Another seed, world number eight Zheng Qinwen, was less fortunate as she crashed out with a 6-4 6-2 defeat to Ons Jabeur.

Three-time grand slam finalist Jabeur rallied to take the first set after giving up back-to-back breaks to start the contest, but she was far more comfortable in the second, only giving up three points in her first three service games and ultimately converting her second match point.