Zheng Saisai sweeps into Dubai doubles final, World No.2 Halep blasts past Brady
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Zheng Saisai (L) and Barbora Krejcikova celebrates their semifinal win during the Dubai Championships at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, February 21, 2020. /VCG

Zheng Saisai (L) and Barbora Krejcikova celebrates their semifinal win during the Dubai Championships at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, February 21, 2020. /VCG

Zheng Saisai and Barbora Krejcikova demonstrated being ruthless with composure brilliantly, pounding out a 6-2, 6-2 defeat of the unseeded Desirae Krawczyk and Alison Riske to move into the doubles final at the Dubai Championships. 

The fifth-seeded duo had only ever teamed up once previously in 2017, storming into the Italian Open final in Rome with relative ease, and they proved in an one-sided affair on Friday night that they still had that spark together. 

"We played really smart, we had good communication on court and on the deciding points we played a little better," said Krejcikova after the clash. 

They will take on defending champions and top seeds Hsieh Su-wei and Barbora Strycova, who overwhelmed 4th-seeded Gabriela Dabrowski and Zhang Shuai  7-5 6-3 later in the day to book the other spot in the final.

Su-Wei Hsieh (R) and Barbora Strycova in action during the Dubai Championships at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, February 21, 2020. /VCG

Su-Wei Hsieh (R) and Barbora Strycova in action during the Dubai Championships at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, February 21, 2020. /VCG

"We know them [Zheng and Krejcikova] both very well, but we haven't played them before as a pair," said Strycova.  

"It's going to be interesting, it's going to be a very tough match, because they were beating very good teams. Just to say, we are very happy to be back in the final," he added. 

In women's single, Simona Halep reached her second career final after routing U.S. qualifier Jennifer Brady.  

The top seed and world number two will play for the title on Saturday against Elena Rybakina after the Kazakh defeated Petra Martic 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/2) in their earlier semi-final. 

"It felt much better than previous matches, I played really well," said Halep after a 62-minute win which followed having to come back from a set down in both of her previous matches. 

"Everything went in, I felt the ball great. I feel like I played the best match since I came here."

After a modest 2019 season, Rybakina has improved 150 places to 19th in the rankings. /VCG

After a modest 2019 season, Rybakina has improved 150 places to 19th in the rankings. /VCG

Rybakina is the form player of 2020, now into her fourth final from five tournaments. 

The Kazakh, who has now won a WTA-leading 19 matches in 2020, took two and a quarter hours to outlast her more experienced Croatian opponent Martic who led 3-0 in the second set. 

Rybakina won the Hobart title last month and finished runner-up in Shenzhen and St Petersburg. 

Halep retired in her only previous match with Rybakina in the Wuhan third round last September. 

"A final is a final," said Halep, who will be bidding for a 20th career title on Saturday.

"It's always a nice opportunity and privilege to play the last match of the tournament.

"I'm playing for another trophy, so I'm relaxed. I'm focused. I really want it. Playing here in Dubai makes me happy on court, I actually feel like every day I'm improving."

(With input from agencies)