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World number one Aryna Sabalenka unleashed her big game with a devastating effect on Tuesday, hammering China’s Wang Xinyu 6-1, 6-3 to reach the fourth round of the Cincinnati Masters.
Sabalenka took only 20 minutes to blow through the first set against her 36th-ranked opponent and opened the second set with an immediate break.
She maintained constant pressure throughout, forcing Wang to double-fault on match point after just 54 minutes. The victory marked Sabalenka’s 45th consecutive win at the Masters 1000 level.
“I cannot complain,” Sabalenka said. “She’s a tough opponent. To win in straight sets like this in under an hour is insane. I really trusted myself and went for my shots without overthinking, staying focused on every point.”
Sabalenka advances to face Czech player Sara Bejlek, who rallied past Ekaterina Alexandrova 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Fourth seed Coco Gauff also advanced after overcoming a tough second-set challenge in a 6-1, 7-6 (7/3) victory over fellow American Ann Li.
The 2023 champion dominated the opening set in 30 minutes before trading early breaks in the second set to force a tie-breaker, where she seized a 4-1 lead and sealed the match on her third match point.
“She played better in the second set, and I missed a couple of break opportunities,” Gauff acknowledged, adding that adjusting to her first day match on centre court made controlling the ball difficult.
Reigning French Open champion Mirra Andreeva survived a fierce second-set test, battling past 37th-ranked Indonesian challenger Janice Tjen 6-1, 7-6 (7/5).
After coasting through the opening set, the fifth seed admitted to getting nervous as Tjen cut down on unforced errors, turning the contest into a battle of physical and mental resilience.
Meanwhile, eighth seed Elina Svitolina withdrew prior to her match against Wang Xiyu due to an ankle injury, stating that doctors advised her to rest and recover completely.
On the men’s side, fifth seed Taylor Fritz fired eight aces to overcome Spain’s Daniel Merida 6-3, 6-4 in 83 minutes, setting up a fourth-round encounter against Australia’s Chris O’Connell.
Montreal finalist Brandon Nakashima pulled off an impressive comeback victory, saving three match points in the second set to upset fourth seed Daniil Medvedev 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-1.
Lorenzo Musetti swept past American Michael Zheng 6-1, 6-3, while Portugal’s Nuno Borges stunned Andrey Rublev 6-3, 6-4, calling his fourth-round berth “a big moment.”
