Aryna Sabalenka explains the change she has made to her game which is helping her win matches

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Aryna Sabalenka has reached yet another quarter-final of the season after her China Open win over Madison Keys.

Sabalenka is aiming to emulate Novak Djokovic on the court, having reached a 10th consecutive WTA Tour quarter-final.

The world number two and top seed overcame 18th seed Keys 6-4, 6-3 in their China Open round of 16 clash.

Sabalenka is fresh from her US Open success, where she clinched her third Grand Slam title with the win against Jessica Pegula.

The former is now without defeat since the Toronto Open quarter-finals in August, with 15 successive matches won.

Aryna Sabalenka details change that is helping her win matches

Sabalenka has been labelled the world’s best player amid her current run of form, but she will be eyeing further success at the China Open.

As per the WTA website, the Belarusian has now shared a major change she has made that has helped her enjoy such a run, with Sabalenka saying: “But also in the past I had a lot of difficult things to face. After you face certain things, you realise it’s just sport.

“Okay, if you’re not going to win this match, what happens? Nobody is going to die. You’re not going to die. It’s okay. You’re going to go in another tournament and you’re going to try your best in the next one.

“Before it felt like if I’m not going to win this match, something bad is going to happen. I’m going to die, whatever. But these kinds of thoughts create all of that pressure, all of that frustration, all of that crazy stuff.

“Nowadays I’m just working hard, I’m trying to improve myself every day. Every time I’m on the court, I’m trying to give my best. If you give your best and you didn’t win the match, okay. You learn and you try better next time.”

Aryna Sabalenka in pole position to win the China Open

Sabalenka has dominated her opponents lately, with the 26-year-old winning 30 of 31 sets across her 15-match win streak.

It is now a third successive China Open quarter-final for the Belarusian, although she has yet to reach the semi-finals.

Up next for the three-time Grand Slam champion is a tricky test against Karolina Muchova, while Coco Gauff and Paula Badosa also remain in Beijing.

Sabalenka will, however, be hard to stop given her current form, particularly given that the world number one ranking could go her way in the near future if such form is continued.

Current incumbent Iga Swiatek withdrew from the China Open due to personal reasons, having won the tournament in 2023.