Wuhan Open 2025: Aryna Sabalenka defeats Rebecca Sramkova in first match since US Open
Aryna Sabalenka overcame a rusty start in Wuhan as she battled to beat Rebecca Sramkova in her first appearance since winning the US Open.
The world number one won her first Grand Slam trophy of the year in New York, retaining her title when she beat Amanda Anisimova in the final.
But in her first match in more than a month, Sabalenka’s match initially went awry as she struggled against the power of Slovakia’s Ramkova, ranked 68th in the world.
However, after losing the first set, she settled into the match in the second and then swung in the third to cap off a 4-6 6-3 6-1 victory.
“I know it won’t be easy after the break [following the US Open] To get into my rhythm, but I’m happy to have found my game in the second set, I stepped in and I played really well,” said Sabalenka.
“I have to say she played incredible tennis, especially in the first set, and there was nothing I could say about it.”
Sabalenka is a three-time defending champion in Wuhan, winning the title in 2018 and 2019, and again in 2024 after a three-year break from competition due to the epidemic in 1924.
When asked what it feels like to be nicknamed “the daughter of Wuhan” [a nickname she says is in honour of her love of the dish].
“Then I and [China’s world number 10 Zheng] Qinwen, they actually called me “Tiger”. So many nicknames.
“I’ve won a lot of games here and it feels like home and hopefully I can keep going.”
Sabalenka had a bye in the second round, cutting a frustrated figure as she struggled on serve and breaking some early double faults to hand Sramkova.
Slovakia played Sabalenka at her own game, beating the top seeds with deep and aggressive hitting and a huge 6-4 opener.
But Sabalenka eventually regained some rhythm in the second set and opened up a few breaking points on her way to forcing the decider and opening a 5-2 lead.
With more momentum behind her, the four-time major champion took control in the third set, breaking twice and saving four break points at 5-1 before adding another victory.
Earlier, Coco Gauff advanced to the third round with a 51-minute victory over Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, who won by just 5 points on the American third seed’s serve.
Sixth seed Jessica Pegula avoided frustration in the second round, converting her seventh match to win 6-4 4-6 7-6 (8-6) in a grueling two hours and 55 minutes of meeting with American and world No. 55 Hailey Baptiste.
Pegula will next face Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova, while Gauff will play Shuai Zhang, who defeated Romania’s Sorana Cirstea.
Meanwhile, heat and humidity continued to cause problems for some players, with Czech 12th seed Karolina Muchova forced to retire while trailing Poland’s Magdalena Frech 7-6 (7-1) 4-1.
