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Arina Sabalenka He extended his unbeaten streak at the Wuhan Open to 20 matches with a 6-3, 6-3 win elena rybakina On Friday, it prepares for a semi-final clash while keeping its quest for a fourth straight title alive jessica pegula,
In the 13th chapter of the rivalry, which has been played on the biggest stages including the 2023 Australian Open final, it was Sabalenka who struck the first blow against Rybakina, breaking with a stunning forehand winner in the eighth game.
Sabalenka, who won the Wuhan title in 2018-19 and returned to the tournament again last year after the COVID pandemic, won the opening set convincingly and took control of the match by breaking Rybakina in the first game of the second set.
The world number one won despite some late service errors, improving her win-loss record against Rybakina to 8-5 and gaining some form of revenge for her loss in their last encounter in Cincinnati this year.
Sabalenka said, “She’s a great player, a very nice girl and it’s always difficult to play against her.”
“We have a really big history against each other, always great battles, and I’m always excited to play with her. She always pushes me to the limit. I’m very happy with my performance today, with the win, and with the support in the stadium.
“I think I feel a really great connection with the Chinese fans. Every time I play in this stadium I feel like home. Honestly, this (winning run) is crazy.”
Following the big-hitting Belarusian is American Pegula, who came from behind to beat Czech Katerina Siniakova 2-6, 6-0, 6-3 to win her 50th match of the season and boost her chances of qualifying for next month’s season-ending WTA Finals.
Sabalenka has won eight of her 10 meetings with Pegula, including the US Open final last year and the US Open semi-finals this season.
Germany’s Laura Siegemund faces third seeded American player coco goff In another quarterfinal later on Friday, second-seeded Iga Swiatek of Poland will face Italian seventh-seeded Jasmine Paolini in a rematch of their 2024 French Open final.