Sabalenka and Gauff Advance to Third Round at Wuhan Open
Aryna Sabalenka triumphed over Rebecca Sramkova with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, securing her place in the third round of the Wuhan Open. This match marked Sabalenka’s return to competition following her victory at the US Open last month. Although she encountered early difficulties, Sramkova’s initial momentum was ultimately subdued by the four-time Grand Slam champion, who remains unbeaten in her last 18 appearances at the Wuhan Open.
The match began with both players struggling to hold their serve. Sramkova broke Sabalenka in the third game and capitalized on the Belarusian’s apparent rustiness. Sramkova’s consistent performance allowed her to secure the first set in just 35 minutes.
In her post-match remarks, Sabalenka acknowledged her opponent’s strong play. “Rebecca played incredible tennis, especially in the first set. There wasn’t much I could do,” she stated. “I knew after my little break from tennis in the last month, it would not be easy to get back into my rhythm but I’m really glad in the second set I found my game and I stepped in and played really great.”
As the second set unfolded, Sabalenka adjusted her strategy, displaying increased aggression. She broke Sramkova’s serve in the fourth game and successfully navigated a series of break points in a lengthy seventh game, shifting the momentum in her favor. With renewed confidence, Sabalenka broke twice in the final set, ultimately sealing her victory and positioning herself for a potential fourth consecutive title at the Wuhan Open.
Gauff and Pegula Secure Third Round Spots
Coco Gauff also advanced to the third round after a commanding performance against Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, winning 6-1, 6-0 in just 51 minutes. The world No 3 came into the tournament following a semi-final loss to Amanda Anisimova at the China Open. Gauff’s next challenge will be against Chinese wild card Zhang Shuai.
Jessica Pegula faced a more challenging path in her match against fellow American Hailey Baptiste. Pegula was twice broken while serving for the match in the third set but displayed resilience, ultimately winning 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6). Pegula’s victory came on her seventh match point and sets her up for a meeting with ninth-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova, who defeated American Ann Li 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.
In other notable matches, Liudmila Samsonova overcame 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. Additionally, qualifier Katerina Siniakova achieved a decisive 6-3, 6-1 victory over Maya Joint.
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