China Open Day 6 Roundup: Sabalenka, Gauff advance, Garcia sets up Swiatek clash

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka defeated unseeded Italian Jasmine Paolini in the third round of the China Open to advance to the quarterfinals against Elena Rybakina.

Paolini had a 2-1 head-to-head record against Sabalenka, including a three-set victory in Indian Wells last year. The World No.36 rallied from a 6-4, 3-1 deficit to serve for the second set twice, at 5-4 and 6-5, but never got to set point. Sabalenka won five of the first six points of the ensuing tiebreak to enroute to wrapping up the victory in 1 hour and 37 minutes.

Sabalenka had 41 winners, including 16 aces, and 22 unforced errors, while Paolini had 18 winners and only seven errors.

Earlier, Coco Gauff, the US Open champion, advanced to the China Open quarterfinals by defeating Veronika Kudermetova 7-6(5) 6-2.

Gauff has now won 21 of her last 22 matches, including each of her last 15, and will face Maria Sakkari in the quarterfinals after the Greek defeated Wang Xinyu 6-4 2-6 6-3.

She needed all three sets to beat Petra Martic in the previous round on Tuesday, but after a shaky start, the match against Kudermetova was more straightforward.

Over the two sets, Kudermetova committed four double faults, while Gauff converted five of her eight break points. Gauff saved four set points in the first set as she rallied from 4-5 0-40 to force a tie-break, which she won before racing away in the second set to win.

Caroline Garcia of France defeated Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina 6-3, 6-2. Garcia was far from ruthless, failing to convert ten of her fourteen break points. She will face former world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals, who will be looking to reclaim the top ranking from Sabalenka.

SportsLigue