Quite a start of the week for Aryna Sabalenka! In her first official match as the world #1, Aryna plays some amazing tennis to defeat Sofia Kenin and to reach the WTA 1000 Beijing R2 6-1 6-2, losing 6 points across 8 service games
Sabalenka starts World No.1 reign with sublime display to ease past Kenin at China Open
WTASunday, 01 October 2023 at 10:10
Aryna Sabalenka as the new World No.1 received a tough assignment on paper in her first match atop the WTA rankings facing off against Sofia Kenin at the China Open.
But Sabalenka showed why she is World No.1 with a dazzling 6-1, 6-2 success over the American which has opened the door to her run in Beijing.
Previously being a dominant force in the Asian swing, it is firmly back to business as she only lost six points across eight service games and sealed the win in just over an hour.
22 winners for the Belarusian and the draw has opened up of sorts too for her now. She will next face either Magdalena Frech or Katie Boulter, while the winner of the second round clash faces Yue Yuan or Jasmine Paolini.
The cork in the bottle was Paolini who saw off Beatriz Haddad Maia who was the other main seed in that section. Elena Rybakina would likely be the first big name that Sabalenka would have to conquer in the latter stages.
But while Sabalenka made light work of her opener, Marketa Vondrousova will not continue her run with the Wimbledon champion being dumped out by Anhelina Kalinina. There was also victory in the all-American battle for Jennifer Brady.
She took out US Open revelation Peyton Stearns who had only dropped minimal games in qualifying this week but lost with ease in straight sets to the former Australian Open finalist.
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