China Open: Sabalenka makes 12th quarter-final for the season

Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed, reached the quarter-finals of the China Open by beating American Madison Keys, the No 18 seed, 6-4, 6-3 at the National Tennis Center in Beijing on Wednesday.

Sabalenka needed only 66 minutes to down Keys, who broke the former twice but had her serve broken five times. The Belarsuian produced an impressive average of 84 percent on first-serve points, also benefitting from the American’s six double faults.

This is notably Sabalenka’s 12th quarter-final qualification for the season and she extends her winning streak to 15.

Sabalenka, ranked No 2, will play the winner of the match between Spaniard Cristina Bucsa and Karolina Muchova next.

The Belarusian won against Thai qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew (6-4, 6-1) and American Ashlyn Krueger (6-2, 6-2) ahead of her victory.

In the previous rounds of the Beijing tournament, Keys, ranked No 24, won against Spanish qualifier Sara Sorribes Tormo (6-2, 6-1) and Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, the No 13 seed (6-3, 6-3).

Beijing WTA 1000, other last 16 results (National Tennis Center, hard, USD 8.955.610, most recent results first):

• Amanda Anisimova vs. Qinwen Zheng
• Magda Linette vs. Mirra Andreeva
• Cristina Bucsa vs. Karolina Muchova
• Coco Gauff (4) beat Naomi Osaka: 3-6, 6-4 ret.
• Yuliia Starodubtseva (Q) beat Anna Kalinskaya (10): 7-5, 6-0
• Shuai Zhang (WC) beat Magdalena Frech (23): 6-4, 6-2
• Paula Badosa (15) beat Jessica Pegula (2): 6-4, 6-0

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