But Noskova lived up to her reputation as one of the game’s most dangerous floaters, the big-hitting Czech star having already scored six Top 10 victories in her young career including one over Iga Swiatek at the 2024 Australian Open.
Badosa would prove Noskova’s seventh victory as the night session got underway.
“Things are a lot more calm [at night], and there’s a lot less things you can worry about or focus on. It’s really comfortable for me,” said Noskova.
After an exchange of breaks in the first set, Noskova pulled away to lose just one more game in the match, breaking Badosa three times in the second set to surge into the last eight.
In total, Noskova struck a whopping 28 winners to just nine from Badosa, and kept her stat sheet clean with only 18 unforced errors.
Awaiting Noskova there will be either No. 6 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or Poland’s Magda Linette.
“I’m just looking forward to another match,” said Noskova, who had won just one match coming into Abu Dhabi after a first-round loss at the Australian Open. “I’ve had some struggles in the beginning of the year, so I’m glad to have every match I can.”
