Like in Brisbane, Jennifer Brady is thriving as a qualifier, in Dubai

Update: On Thursday, Brady defeated Garbine Muguruza, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4, to earn her first ever Premier-level semifinal spot.

In an event that has already lost three of its top seeds, qualifier Jennifer Brady is emerging as an unlikely title contender at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

After dropping just three games in the first round against No. 3 seed Elina Svitolina, Brady pulled off a heroic comeback on Wednesday, rallying from a set and a double-break down to defeat 2019 French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

The 24-year-old American, who is looking for her maiden WTA title, is enjoying a great start to 2020. In January, also as a qualifier, she reached the quarterfinals of Brisbane, including a second-round win against world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty.

For a spot in the Dubai semifinals, Brady will face former No. 1 and Australian Open runner-up Garbine Muguruza. While it will be another tall task, Brady has clearly found a comfort zone against big-names competition, and won’t be intimated by the two-time Grand Slam champion.

"Going out there and believing that I could win," Brady said after her win over Svitolina, was critical to the result. "Obviously respecting my opponent, but not to the point where I put the opponent on a pedestal, have to think that I have to play my best tennis in order to win. I was just focused on my game plan, myself."

Match point: Brady defeats Svitolina

Muguruza, who had a tough 2019 season which saw her fall outside the Top 30, is expecting a tough battle.

“It’s going to be another tough match,” Muguruza said. “Every match is a challenge, so I’m excited.”

The Spaniard, who had the honor of being Kim Clijsters’ first opponent in her first match back from a seven-year break, battled past Veronika Kudermetova on Wednesday, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.

“It was a hard-fought match,” she said. “Veronika is playing very well. I’m excited to get the win in a tough match like this.”

Earlier, second-seeded Karolina Pliskova dispatched qualifier Kristina Mladenovic, 6-1, 6-2. In Wednesday’s evening match, top seed Simona Halep battled past Australian Open quarterfinalist Ons Jabeur, 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7).

Meanwhile, No. 4 seed and defending champion Belinda Bencic—who came off the rails after winning the first 19 points against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova—and No. 5 seed and Australian champion Sofia Kenin are already out.