Wuhan Open Highlights
In an exciting turn of events at the Wuhan Open, Jessica Pegula managed to secure her place in the third round after a tough match against compatriot Hailey Baptiste. The sixth seed, Pegula faced challenges in the deciding set, enduring two break points while serving for the match. Nevertheless, she prevailed in a nail-biting tiebreaker, wrapping up the contest with a final score of 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (6), clinching victory on her seventh match point.
After her recent semifinal exit at the China Open, Pegula is set to compete against ninth-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova next, who advanced by defeating American Ann Li 7-6 (5), 6-2.
Dominance of Coco Gauff
Meanwhile, third seed Coco Gauff showed her dominance on the court, easily advancing with a commanding win over Moyuka Uchijima, 6-1, 6-0, in a swift match that lasted just 51 minutes.
In another notable match, Liudmila Samsonova staged a comeback against former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, overcoming an initial set loss to claim victory with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. She will be up against US Open winner Aryna Sabalenka in the next round, who defeated Rebecca Sramkova in a competitive match, eventually winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Aryna Sabalenka’s Journey
Sabalenka, the top seed and reigning champion who holds an impressive 18-match winning streak in Wuhan, previously secured titles in 2018, 2019, and 2024. After her successful run at the US Open, she chose to withdraw from last week’s China Open to take time for recovery, stating:
“I feel good. I just didn’t want to rush my body into the tournament. So I think we made the right decision to take extra time for recovery and for preparation. Physically, I feel ready to go.”
The stage is set for an exciting continuation of the tournament as these talented players vie for advancement.
