Aryna Sabalenka withstands Katie Boulter pressure to reach last 16 of China Open along with Jessica Pegula
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Updated 03/10/2023 at 13:23 GMT
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was made to work hard as she held off Katie Boulter to reach the last 16 of the China Open. British No. 1 Boulter fashioned 12 break-point chances but could only convert twice as she missed the chance to push Sabalenka beyond two sets at the WTA 1000 event. Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff and Caroline Garcia all won, but Ons Jabeur lost.
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Katie Boulter could not make the most of a slew of break-point chances as she was beaten by world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the last 32 of the China Open.
Boulter passed up eight break points at 5-5 in the first set and was then broken in the next game to drop the set.
Boulter broke late in the second set but could not serve out the win and Sabalenka came through 7-5 7-6(2).
Sabalenka will play world No. 36 Jasmine Paolini in the next round.
Boulter matched Sabalenka with 34 winners but went 2-12 on break points and will rue that she was not at least able to force a third set.
The British No. 1 withstood early pressure on her serve before breaking to lead 4-3.
Sabalenka levelled at 5-5 and then held in a marathon game, recovering from 0-40 down and saving eight break points.
The next game went to the world No. 1 as she closed out the set.
The second set stayed on serve until Boulter made the breakthrough in the ninth game.
Again, though, the British No. 1 could not hold onto the advantage as Sabalenka immediately hit back.
Sabalenka then proved the stronger in the tie-breaker, pulling clear from 2-2 to seal her progress.
Third seed Coco Gauff battled through in three sets to beat Petra Martic while world No. 2 Iga Swiatek won 6-4 6-1 against Varvara Gracheva.
US Open champion Gauff looked in trouble as she twice fell behind a break in the deciding set, but she recovered to win 7-5 5-7 7-6(2).
Fourth seed Jessica Pegula came from a set down to beat world No. 39 Anna Blinkova.
Pegula lost the first set in a tie-breaker after twice recovering from a break down.
The American hit back in the second set with two breaks helping her to level the contest.
The third set was one-sided as Pegula held to love for 1-1 and then reeled off five games in a row to seal her place in the last 16.
Pegula next faces Jelena Ostapenko, who had a walkover in the last round after opponent Linda Noskova withdrew.
Ninth seed Caroline Garcia won 6-3 3-6 6-3 against Yulia Putintseva while seventh seed Ons Jabeur lost 7-6(5) 6-1 to Marta Kostyuk.
Elena Rybakina won 7-5 6-0 against Tatjana Maria.
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