Aryna Sabalenka explains why the Wuhan Open is key to her chances of success at the WTA Finals

Follow us on Google Discover

Following her shock China Open defeat Aryna Sabalenka is treating the Wuhan Open with the utmost importance.

The Belarusian was the overwhelming favourite to claim the title in the Chinese capital having won her last two tournaments at the Cincinnati Open and US Open.

But the 26-year-old’s 15-match unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of Karolina Muchova in the quarter-finals.

Now in Wuhan the World number two is keen to build on her performance from her last tournament, especially with the WTA Finals on the horizon.

Why is the Wuhan Open so important to Aryna Sabalenka’s WTA Finals chances?

After Wuhan, where Aryna Sabalenka is the two-time defending champion, it is unlikely that she will play again until the WTA Finals, which commences on November 2.

The reigning Australian Open and US Open champion is aiming to win the season-ending championships for the first time in her career.

Therefore, with Sabalenka not set to play any more tennis for the rest of the month after Wuhan, she is focused on having a deep run to boost her confidence and preparing for the last tournament of what has been a gruelling season.

“I think between Wuhan and the Finals is like a three-week gap. It means if you don’t reach last stages of the tournaments here, then you have a really bigger gap in between, which is not so good before going to the last tournament of the year where every match is a high-intensity match,” Sabalenka told the WTA website.

“For me, it’s really important to do well here so I’m just better prepared for the Finals and I have more matches in my pocket before the last push of the season.”

Aryna Sabalenka starts Wuhan Open with a win

Sabalenka began her quest for a third successive Wuhan Open title by defeating Kateřina Siniaková.

She was tested by the Czech player, but she stayed solid behind her serve which she made 83% of the time and blasted over 20 winners.

Sabalenka broke her opponent’s serve in the tenth game of the second set to secure a 6–4, 6-4 win in one hour and 34 minutes.

Another tricky opponent lies ahead for Sabalenka in the form of Yulia Putintseva, who defeated Olympic silver medallist Donna Vekic in her last match.