According to information provided by Opta,, external Sabalenka has become the fourth female competitor since 1990 to triumph in each of her initial 20 main draw encounters at a single WTA-level tournament, a feat previously achieved by Monica Seles at the Australian Open (33-0), Steffi Graf in Leipzig (25-0), and Caroline Wozniacki in New Haven (20-0).
Sabalenka, who successfully defended her US Open title in September, asserted dominance over Rybakina throughout their match. She secured the initial set by maintaining her serve and subsequently broke the Kazakhstani’s serve during the opening game of the second set.
Despite encountering minor service-related difficulties towards the match’s conclusion, Sabalenka achieved a decisive victory, setting the stage for a match against Pegula. Sabalenka has emerged victorious in eight out of their ten previous encounters.
When questioned about her successive victories at the ongoing competition, Sabalenka, a four-time major winner, expressed a “genuinely strong bond” with her fanbase present in China.
“Each time I compete here, I feel a sense of familiarity. Truthfully, it is incredible,” she stated.
In a parallel development, Pegula, the sixth seed, faced a set deficit against Siniakova before staging a comeback to secure the second set without conceding a game. She then claimed the deciding set, achieving her 50th victory of the season and solidifying her prospects of qualifying for the season-culminating WTA Finals scheduled for the upcoming month.
Pegula’s most recent seven matches have all extended to three sets, with the world number six experiencing only a single defeat during this span. “I believe I am in exceptional physical condition,” she remarked jokingly.
Gauff, the American third seed, capitalized on five of eight break point opportunities against Siegemund of Germany and has conceded only nine games in her three rounds in Wuhan up until now.
The reigning French Open champion and world number three, who previously encountered defeat at the hands of Amanda Anisimova in the China Open semi-finals last week, is now preparing to face seventh seed Paolini in her next match.
Paolini of Italy, currently ranked eighth globally, had previously lost her six encounters against Swiatek of Poland, but the 29-year-old swiftly secured the opening set in a mere 26 minutes against the second seed, ultimately claiming a significant victory.
