Vekic stuns Sabalenka in Dubai

Donna Vekic came from behind to beat World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

The match ended 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-0 in 2 hours and 22 minutes.

It's the Croatian's sixth win in eight encounters with Sabalenka dating back to 2016. She will next face Sorana Cirstea, who defeated 13th seed Veronika Kudermetova 6-1, 6-4.

Vekic, who has reached two Grand Slam quarterfinals in her career to date, will be bidding to reach the last eight of a WTA 1000 tournament for the first time.

Elsewhere, fourth seed Elena Rybakina advanced to the round of 16 after former world number one Victoria Azarenka was forced to retire with an injury before the third set after her Kazakh opponent levelled the match at 4-6 6-2.

In-form former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko eased past Swiss Lulu Sun 6-3 6-3, while Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova was made to work hard by American Peyton Stearns before sealing a 6-1 5-7 6-2 victory.