Sabalenka Battles Past Sramkova on Wuhan Return

World number one Aryna Sabalenka overcame a sluggish start to defeat Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova in her first match since lifting the US Open title, advancing to the third round of the Wuhan Open, Sport360NG reports.

Playing for the first time in more than a month, Sabalenka looked rusty early on as a string of unforced errors allowed Sramkova, ranked 68th, to seize the opening set. But the Belarusian gradually found her rhythm, rallying to seal a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 comeback victory.

“I knew it wouldn’t be easy to find my rhythm after the break following the US Open,” Sabalenka said. “I’m glad that in the second set I started feeling my game again. Rebecca played unbelievable tennis in that first set, there wasn’t much I could do.”

The win keeps Sabalenka on track to defend her Wuhan crown, a title she has won three times, in 2018, 2019 and 2024, with the event returning last year after a three-year pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Reflecting on her popularity among Chinese fans, the world number one laughed when asked about her many nicknames.
“First I was called the ‘Daughter of China,’ then ‘Queen of Fried Rice’ because I love it,” she said. “Now they call me ‘Tiger.’ I’ve had a lot of success here, it really feels like home.”

Given a bye into the second round, Sabalenka looked unsettled early as double faults cost her an early break. Sramkova took full advantage, matching the top seed’s power with heavy baseline hitting to claim the first set.

Sabalenka, however, regrouped and began dictating rallies in the second. She broke serve early and held off several break points to level the match. With momentum firmly on her side, the four-time Grand Slam champion dominated the decider, breaking twice before sealing victory with a final break of serve.

Next up for Sabalenka is Liudmila Samsonova, who defeated former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Elsewhere, Coco Gauff advanced comfortably, dismantling Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in just 51 minutes. The American third seed dropped only five points on her own serve in a one-sided encounter.

Sixth seed Jessica Pegula survived a marathon against compatriot Hailey Baptiste, prevailing 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6) after nearly three hours and converting her seventh match point. Pegula will now face Ekaterina Alexandrova, while Gauff meets China’s Shuai Zhang, who upset Sorana Cirstea.

In other action, Naomi Osaka fell 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 to Czech Linda Noskova, continuing the 17th seed’s strong Asian swing after her run to the China Open final earlier this month.

The day also saw high temperatures take their toll, with Czech 12th seed Karolina Muchova forced to retire while trailing 7-6 (7-1), 4-1 against Poland’s Magdalena Frech.