Aryna Sabalenka Wins Tough Match at Wuhan Open After US Open Triumph

WUHAN, China — Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one, made a successful return to the WTA Tour as she battled past Rebecca Sramkova in the first round of the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open on Monday. This match marked Sabalenka’s first appearance since her victory at the US Open, where she won her fourth Grand Slam title.

Sabalenka faced a challenging start, dropping the first set 4-6. However, she found her rhythm in the second set, eventually winning the match 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. “I knew it wouldn’t be easy after the break to get into my rhythm, but I am glad I found my game in the second set,” Sabalenka said in a post-match interview.

The 27-year-old Belarusian, who is also the three-time defending champion in Wuhan, displayed determination after a shaky beginning. She struggled with double faults and made several errors, allowing Sramkova to capitalize early in the match. Despite this, Sabalenka regained composure, rallying to take control in the final set.

“She played incredible tennis, especially in the first set,” Sabalenka acknowledged. “There wasn’t much I could do at that moment.” Following this match, Sabalenka is set to face Liudmila Samsonova in the next round after Samsonova defeated former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.

Other notable matches included Coco Gauff, who advanced to the third round with a dominating 51-minute victory over Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima. Gauff’s American compatriot, Jessica Pegula, also progressed after a hard-fought win.

The Wuhan Open is the last WTA 1000 event of the season and features a field that includes eight of the top ten players in the PIF WTA Rankings. As Sabalenka aims for a fourth consecutive title at this tournament, she faces high expectations to deliver top-level performances.