Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka kept her perfect Wuhan Open record alive on Wednesday, coming from a set down to defeat Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. It was Sabalenka’s first match since clinching her fourth Grand Slam title at the US Open, and she admitted to a slow start.
The Belarusian world number one rediscovered her power game in the final set, sweeping to victory in under two hours. Sabalenka will now face 16th-seeded Liudmila Samsonova in the last 16, aiming for her fourth consecutive Wuhan crown and extending her unbeaten 18-0 record at the tournament.
“She played incredible tennis, especially in the first set… I’m really glad I found my game in the second set,” Sabalenka said.
Gauff Cruises Through
Third seed Coco Gauff was dominant in her 6-1, 6-0 win over Japanese qualifier Moyuka Uchijima, advancing to the last 16 in just 51 minutes. The American’s flawless performance marked her 18th WTA win in China since 2023, the most by any player in the country during that period.
Gauff will next face Chinese wildcard Zhang Shuai for a place in the quarter-finals.
Pegula Survives Marathon
In contrast, world number six Jessica Pegula endured a near three-hour thriller against fellow American Hailey Baptiste, eventually winning 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (8/6) after saving multiple match points. Pegula served for the match twice but was pushed to a tiebreak, finally converting her seventh match point to progress.
“It’s been brutal… I’m really proud of myself for how I held it together because I easily could have just collapsed,” Pegula said.
She will face ninth seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the next round.
Heat Forces Retirements
Rising temperatures above 30°C caused physical struggles for several players. 12th-seeded Karolina Muchova retired mid-match while trailing Magdalena Frech 7-6 (7/1), 4-1, joining Emma Raducanu, Jelena Ostapenko, and Dayana Yastremska in the list of mid-match withdrawals due to heat.
With Sabalenka steadying her Wuhan legacy, Gauff in imperious form, and Pegula battling through, the tournament promises thrilling action as it heads into the later stages.
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