Jelena Ostapenko sets up clash with Simona Halep in Dubai

Jelena Ostapenko scrambled her way into the Dubai Tennis Championships semifinals on Thursday with a 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 win over former champion Petra Kvitova. 

"It was a really good match. I think the level was really high," said a relieved Ostapenko, who has now defeated three former Grand Slam winners this week.

"She was playing really well today. She was especially serving well. I was trying just to fight and stay in the match, believe that I can win until the very last point. I just knew I have to fight."

Ostapenko will now face 2020 champion Simona Halep, who powered past eighth seed Ons Jabeur with a 6-4 6-3 victory.

 Although Halep built a 5-2 lead, she struggled to close out the set against a resilient opponent, double-faulting on break point while under pressure as she served at 5-3 but earning her third and decisive break of the set in the next game.

Jabeur responded by taking a 2-0 lead in the second set but Halep fought back to win the next five games to lead 5-2 before closing out the match.

"I’m really pleased with the match," said Halep. "I think I played good tennis. I was super strong on the legs. I knew that she’s changing the rhythm a lot. It’s never easy to actually find the rhythm during the match. I think I did well and I’m really happy that I could win against a tough opponent."

Jabeur felt her fitness wasn't back to the level she would've liked after an injury kept her out of the Australian Open.

"I think, I mean, physically I’m trying to come back. It’s not easy to not be 100 per cent with Simona playing at this level," she said.

Meanwhile, Veronika Kudermetova will clash with qualifier Marketa Vondrousova in the other semis.

Kudermetova beat Jil Teichmann 6-2 5-7 6-4 in another lengthy battle, while Vondrousova defeated Dayana Yastremska 7-5 6-4.