Elena Rybakina defeated Karolina Pliskova 6–4, 6–2 in the round of 16 at the Abu Dhabi WTA 250 on hard court on 9 February 2023, confirming her status as pre-match favourite with odds of 1.51 to Pliskova's 2.72. Rybakina's commanding performance saw her progress through the early stages of the tournament with a decisive victory, dropping only six games across two sets against her Czech opponent. The result underscores Rybakina's strong form on hard courts and her ability to maintain consistency against established players, positioning her favourably for the latter rounds of the Abu Dhabi event.