Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) recorded her 15th straight win and advanced to the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 China Open hard court tennis tournament in Beijing with a prize pool of almost 9 million USD.
The 26-year-old Belarusian tennis player defeated 18th-seeded Madison Keys 2-0 (6:4, 6:3) in 65 minutes to equal her career-best 15-match winning streak in 2020/2021.
The US Open champion will face Karolina Muchova (Czech Republic), who eliminated Cristina Bucsa (Spain) 2-0 (6:2, 6:0) in 69 minutes.
The world’s number two Aryna Sabalenka has won more matches this season than any other tennis player and extended her streak with a routine victory over the 18th-seeded American player. The two traded a break in the first set for 3:3 before the Belarusian made another break on her way to a set win. She closed the set at 6:4 in 34 minutes. The second set started in a similar fashion, with Madison Keys double-faulting on the first match point and Aryna Sabalenka closing out the match.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka could take a big step towards the top of the world rankings if she takes the title in Beijing. Number 1 in the WTA ranking Iga Swiatek is not playing in the Chinese capital because of “personal problems”.
