Top seed Aryna Sabalenka cruised into the China Open quarter-finals with a commanding 6-4, 6-3 victory over Madison Keys, securing her 15th consecutive win. The US Open champion took just 65 minutes to overpower the 24th-ranked American, showcasing her strong form on Wednesday in Beijing.
Sabalenka, currently ranked world number two, has won more matches this season than any other player. After an early exchange of breaks in the first set, the Belarusian pulled away to claim the opening set. The second set followed a similar pattern, with Keys ultimately double-faulting on match point.
The reigning champion will face either Karolina Muchova or Cristina Bucsa in the quarterfinals. With Iga Swiatek absent due to personal matters, Sabalenka has a prime opportunity to overtake her for the top spot in the rankings if she lifts the Beijing title. Sabalenka may meet China’s Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in the semifinals.
