China Open
Sabalenka stuns Gauff to stay untouchable in Wuhan
Aryna Sabalenka edged closer to the No. 1 WTA rankings as she remained a perfect 16-0 at the Wuhan Open after a 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 comeback over Coco gauff in their Saturday semi-final.
The world No. 2 who is profitting as No. 1 Iga Swiatek skips the autumn Asian swing after shaking up her coaching team, won the event in 2018 and 2019 – the last time it was played just months before the city became the epicentre of the COVID pandemic..
She is bidding for a third straight title here after profitting from 21 double-faults from fellow former US Open champion Gauff, who had won her last nine matches including the Beijing title.
Sabalenka has won 19 of her last 20 matches, a streak which kicked off in August as she won Cincinnati and followed up with the Open title; her only loss came in the Beijing quarter-finals and the 26-year-old has reached finals at three of her last four tournaments.
Victory in Wuhan served as revenge for Sabalenka’s 2023 US Open final loss to Gauff; but she paved the way by defeating the American last January in Melbourne on her way to a second Grand Slam title in Australia.
Gauff grabbed the first set in less than half an hour but completely fell apart as Sabalenka swept to victory with her fightback effort.
“In the first set she was just crushing it,” Sabalenka said. “Whatever she was doing, everything was flying in.
“Everything was so aggressive. I didn’t have much opportunities.”
Sabalenka added: “I knew if she can overcome this serve situation, she’s already one of the best players, but I’m pretty sure she’s going to be one of the greatest players.
“I was just trying to put as much pressure on her as I can so she would go even crazier on her serve.”
Sabalenka turned the match tide as she swept the final four games of the second set and continued her progress on to victory in the third even as Gauff levelled from 1-4 down before taking the loss.
“I was able to step in and put so much pressure on her. I was able to go to the net, finish points there, put even more pressure on her.”
Main photo:- Aryna Sabalenka shows her athleticism as she beats Coco Gauff in Wuhan
Coco Gauff got off to a winning start on Sunday at the WTA Finals, ending a three-match loss streak to American compatriot Jessica Pegula with a 6-3, 6-2 group win.
World No. 3 Gauff broke five times in eight Pegula service games on her way to the win in Riyadh.
Pegula, US Open runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka, had won four of five previous matches against her compatriot and came to the season-ender with a Toronto title and finals in Cincinnati and New York.
Gauff won the China Open last month in Beijing and played the Wuhan final. The 20-year-old finished her match in Riyadh with 16 winners.
“I thought we both were playing a high level,” Gauff said. “I just think I was able to break through on the more important points.”
Gauff now plays world No. 2 Swiatek for a 13th time, owning just one win against the Pole.
Novak Djokovic unleashed on Roman Safiullin for an imposing 6-3, 6-2 win into the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals for a 10th time on Wednesday.
The fourth seed who has started limiting his competitive schedule, left nothing to chance as he blasted his opponent in the quest for a 100th career title on Sunday
Djokovic could not have been more impressed with his performance 24 hours after another rout in China.
“Both last night’s match and tonight have been, maybe, some of the best matches I have played in a while,” the 37-year-old said.
“I’m just enjoying myself on the court. When you play well and feel good, there is obviously a lot of joy in striking a tennis ball on the court.”
The 24-time Grand Slam champion added: “These sensations I have on the court are some of the reasons why I keep on playing and keep on competing.
“I really believe that I can play at a very high level. Now, it’s a matter of keeping that consistency and also having a good time off the court.”
The Serb will bid for the semi-finals against teenaged Jakub Mensik, who upst top 10 competitor Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. The 19-year-old is now the youngest quarter-finalist in tournament history.
Djokovic owns the record 40 ATP Masters 1000 titles and stands provisional eighth in the race to the season Finals in Turin next month.
Main photo:- Novak Djokovic wins through to Shanghai quarter finals by ATPTour.com
Coco Gauff won her second title of the season on Sunday in Beijing as she denied Czech spoiler Karolina Muchova the chance for a third straight upset win here.
The American claimed the China Open crown 6-1, 6-3 as she ended Muchova’s giant-killing act in China.
The four-time Grand Slam semi-finalist had locked off world No. 2 and US Open holder Aryna Sabalenka and China’s Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen.
Gauff prevailed to add Beijing to her January trophy in Auckland, claiming victory with 24 winners while Muchova had the same in unforced errors.
The American will move back to fifth in the world heading into Monday’s start of the Wuhan Open. Gauff stands 8-1 in career finals.
“I lost to her three times in a row,” Muchova said. “I lost them all the same way.
“It was always the latest rounds of the tournaments when I got many matches under the belt. It’s very physical with her. I felt like the second one always in the rallies.”
Muchova will regain the top 30 as she returns to form after injury.
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