World number 1 Aryna Saabalenka beat number 16 Liudmila Samsonova 6-3 6-2 in 1 hour and 16 minutes to reach the quarter finals at the Wuhan Open.
Three-time Wuhan Open Sabalenka has extended her unbeaten streak to 19 consecutive wins at this tournament and her active winning streak to eighth matches. She won three titles in Wuhan in 2018, 2019 and 2024.
Sabalenka did not face a break point and was impressive on her second serve, dropping just three points from 16.
Sabalenka broke serve in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead and served out with a hold at 15 in the ninth game. The four-time Grand Slam champion broke twice in the first and seventh games and served out the win on her first match point in the eighth game.
Sabalennka took a month off after winning her fourth Grand Slam title at the US Open last September.
“I knew that after that little break … it will be not that easy to get back in my rhythm. I′m really gland the in the second set I found my game and stepped in and I think I played really great”, said Sabalenka.
Sabakenka set up a quarter final against Elena Rybakina, who beat Linda Noskova 6-3 6-4.
Jessica Pegula recovered from an early break down in the third set to beat Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-5 3-6 6-3.
Alexandrova went up a break in the second game to open up a 3-0 lead. Pegula rallied from 3-5 down by winning four consecutive games to win the first set 7-5. Alexandrova broke serve in the eighth game to win the second set 6-3. Alexandrova converted her third break point to take a 2-1 lead. Pegula broke straight back in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2. Pegula won four of the final games to seal the third set 6-3.
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