Hobart, Tasmania, 16 January 2020 | Leigh Rogers

World No.30 Elena Rybakina has halted Lizette Cabrera’s sensational run at the Hobart International.

Aiming to reach a first WTA semifinal, Cabrera pushed the third-seeded Kazakh in a late-night quarterfinal. Rybakina, who made a WTA final in Shenzhen last week, posted a 7-6(4) 6-7(2) 7-5 victory in a two hour, 37 minute battle against the gallant Australian.

Elena Rybakina gets the hard fought win over Cabrera!

Booking her place in the @HobartTennis semifinal 6-7(4), 7-6(2), 7-5! pic.twitter.com/0pzBcjsnrn

— WTA (@WTA) January 16, 2020

Cabrera had enjoyed an impressive run in Hobart this week. The No.129-ranked wildcard upset eighth seed Caroline Garcia in the opening round, before overcoming big-serving Czech Kristyna Pliskova in three sets to reach her first WTA-level quarterfinal since October 2017. It also marked the first time the 22-year-old from Queensland had recorded consecutive top-100 victories in her career.

Projected to rise to a career-high ranking of No.121 next week, Cabrera now turns her attention to the Australian Open. Cabrera, a wildcard entry, has drawn a qualifier in the opening round.

Australia's women in the first round at #AO2020:

[1] @ashbarty v Tsurenko@bambamsam30 v qualifier
[WC] @lizzycabrera97 v qualifier
[WC] @astrasharma v [29] Kontaveit@Ajlatom v [31] Sevastova
[WC] @arinarodionova v Bondarenko
[WC] @pribo98 v Kuzmova#AusOpen #GoAussies

— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) January 16, 2020