Aryna Sabalenka describes the sacrifices she has made that have contributed to her current winning streak as ‘the best feeling’ after moving into the quarter-finals of the China Open.
The world No.2 eased her way past America’s Madison Keys 6-4, 6-3, in her latest match on Wednesday. She won 26 out of 31 points behind her first serve and broke her opponent five times. It is the 10th consecutive tournament that Sabalenka has reached at least the quarter-final stage or better which is the second-longest run achieved by a female player over the past 15 years. The longest run is 12 by world No.1 Iga Swiatek.
“I’m super happy to win this match in straight sets, especially against Madison,” Sabalenka told reporters about her latest victory.
“We had a lot of tough battles in the past. Being able to close this match in two sets, is a really, really great performance. Happy to get through this match.”
Sabalenka has now won 15 matches in a row, which equals her career-best achieved between 2020 and 2021. Overall, she has won 30 out of 31 sets played with the only player to take a set off her being Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova in the third round of the US Open. Should she triumph in Beijing, it will be the third consecutive tournament she has won after Cincinnati and the US Open.
“When you’re able to sacrifice a lot and you’re able to work hard and you’re able to get these wins, that’s the best feeling,” she said. “You’re just living your best life. You’re excited to play your matches. You’re excited to face whatever fight you going to face.”
The Belarusian’s next test will be against Karolina Muchova, who reached the semi-finals in Flushing Meadows last month and has been ranked as high as eighth in the world. Muchova crushed Spain’s Cristina Bucșa 6-2, 6-0, in her fourth round match.
Sabalenka has lost to Muchova in two out of their past three meetings, including twice last year.
