DUBAI, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Dubai's defending tennis champion Elina Svitolina will face Australian Open semi-finalist Angelique Kerber in the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free (DDF) Tennis Championships to be held on Friday.
Both players claimed straight-set victories on Thursday. Svitolina held off a determined fightback to overcome Japan's wild card Naomi Osaka 6-2, 6-4. In a clash of two former world number ones, Kerber defeated Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 6-3 amid cloudy weather.
The DDF women's tournament continues until February 24.
The DDF Tennis Championships is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free, and held under the patronage of H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
