WUHAN, China — U.S. Open champion Aryna Sabalenka defeated Liudmila Samsonova 6-3, 6-2 on Thursday, extending her Wuhan Open win streak to 19 matches and advancing to the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000-level match.
Prime-ranked Sabalenka’s profitable streak consists of title wins in Wuhan in 2018, 2019 and 2024.
Earlier, Jessica Pegula recovered from a break of serve early within the third set to beat Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 to advance to the final eight. Sixth-seeded Pegula, who misplaced within the China Open semifinals final week, tied the deciding set at 2-2 after which received 4 of her last 5 matches to take the title.
The victory over world No. 9 Alexandrova got here a day after Pegula wanted seven match factors to defeat fellow American Haley Baptiste within the second spherical.
It was Pegula’s sixth consecutive three-set match and fifth win.
“I am unable to keep in mind the final time we performed two units,” Pegula stated. “However I have been competing actually arduous and taking part in in opposition to actually good gamers. At present the roof was closed and the circumstances have been completely different than common, so I believe it took me a short while to regulate.”
Within the evening matches, world No. 2 Iga Swiatek was scheduled to face Belinda Bencic, whereas No. 3 Coco Gauff, who misplaced to eventual champion Amanda Anisimova within the semifinals finally week’s China Open, was scheduled to play Zhang Shuai.
