Wuhan Open Updates: World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka Advances to Quarterfinals
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka cruised into her fourth consecutive Wuhan Open quarterfinal on Thursday. Notably, Sabalenka had recently spent time practicing with tennis legend Novak Djokovic while on holiday last month, which may have contributed to her impressive form.
“So I guess I was, it was a good one. I really hope he's going to go all the way...”
Aryna Sabalenka dominated her match, advancing to the quarterfinals of the Wuhan Open for the fourth consecutive time. The world number one revealed that she spent time practicing with tennis legend Novak Djokovic during her recent holiday in Greece, joking that she “won a lot of points against him for the record.”
Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek secured her spot in the quarterfinals with a thrilling 7-6(2), 6-4 win over Belinda Bencic, marking her 25th WTA 1000 quarterfinal appearance. Swiatek's next opponent is expected to be Jasmine Paolini, with the winner facing the victor of Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva's match.
Aryna Sabalenka bounced back from her previous match's rusty start, delivering a commanding performance to defeat Liudmila Samsonova 6-3, 6-2 at the WTA 1000 tournament in Wuhan. The match was played under the closed roof of the centre court on a hot day in China.
Sabalenka's win extended her unbeaten match run in Wuhan to 19-0, as she aims for a fourth consecutive title in the central Chinese city. After claiming her fourth Grand Slam title at the US Open, Sabalenka took a month-long break, which included a holiday in Greece where she even spent time hitting with Novak Djokovic, a fellow tennis superstar and resident there.
“I won a lot of points against him for the record,” Sabalenka told reporters.
“I hope he's going to confirm that. We went for dinner. We practised a couple times.
“I hope I was a great hitting partner. So far, he's winning in Shanghai,” she added.
“So I guess I was, it was a good one. I really hope he's going to go all the way.
“I won a lot of points against him for the record,” Sabalenka told reporters.
“I hope he's going to confirm that. We went for dinner. We practised a couple times.
“I hope I was a great hitting partner. So far, he's winning in Shanghai,” she added.
“So I guess I was, it was a good one. I really hope he's going to go all the way.”
Aryna Sabalenka dominated Liudmila Samsonova, winning 6-3, 6-2 in just 75 minutes. The Belarusian top seed was solid on her second serve, dropping only three points out of 16, and didn't face a single break point throughout the match.
Sabalenka will face the winner of the match between Elena Rybakina and Linda Noskova in the quarterfinals. Her impressive form continues, with an unbeaten match run of 19-0 in Wuhan as she seeks a fourth consecutive title.
Swiatek Edges Out Bencic in Thrilling Wuhan Open Match
Iga Swiatek and Jasmine Paolini are gearing up for a spot in the semifinals, with their upcoming match promising to be an intense battle. Given their past encounters, Swiatek's experience and skill will be put to the test by Paolini's aggressive playing style.
“I wanted to play with confidence and make great decisions because against Belinda, you can't let her dictate, so I really tried to do that,” said Swiatek.
“It was super hard and every game was tough, that's why it was two sets and over two hours.
“But I'm happy I was there in the deciding moments, to be solid and to play one more shot back.”
The match between Iga Swiatek and Belinda Bencic was a nail-biter, with Bencic recovering from a 3-0 deficit to serve for the first set at 5-4. However, Swiatek regrouped and ultimately took the set in a tiebreak after 72 minutes.
The second set was a closely contested affair, but Swiatek's experience and composure ultimately paid off. The six-time Grand Slam champion proved steadier, breaking Bencic's serve in the final game to seal a 7-6(2), 6-4 win.
Taking care of business 💼@iga_swiatek moves forward in Wuhan, defeating Bencic 7-6(2), 6-4 to set up the quarterfinal against Paolini.#WuhanOpen pic.twitter.com/lQgpEIDzoy
— wta (@WTA) October 9, 2025
Rybakina Advances
Elena Rybakina secured a spot in the quarterfinals, chasing a WTA Finals berth, after defeating Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-4. This win keeps her hopes alive for a year-end championship spot.
Paolini Advances to Quarterfinals After Tauson Retires
Seventh seed Jasmine Paolini battled through a tough match against Clara Tauson, coming from behind to win 3-6, 6-1, 3-1 when Tauson retired due to a right thigh injury. Paolini now sets her sights on the quarterfinals, where she'll face Jasmine Paolini vs Clara Tauson's winner isn't applicable here; instead, she'll face the winner of another match. Given the situation, Paolini's next opponent would likely be determined by the outcome of other matches in the tournament bracket, potentially being Elena Rybakina if she faces the winner of their respective matches.
Jasmine Paolini said she was playing amazing tennis today, but it was her opponent who seemed to be struggling. “She was playing amazing tennis today and honestly, I was struggling a lot,” Paolini admitted after reaching the quarterfinals.
Paolini's day took a turn when she withdrew from her doubles last-16 match due to a gastrointestinal illness. Despite this setback, she remains focused on her singles campaign.
Meanwhile, Jessica Pegula battled through three sets for the second consecutive day to secure her quarterfinal spot. Her determination and perseverance paid off, setting up an exciting matchup in the next round.
American sixth seed Jessica Pegula overcame a tough test against Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova, winning 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals. Having spent almost three hours on court against Hailey Baptiste the previous day, Pegula showed resilience and determination to secure the win.
Pegula will face Czech qualifier Katerina Siniakova in the last eight. Siniakova, who recently defeated Iva Jovic 7-5, 6-3, will be looking to cause another upset in the tournament.
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