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