Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula suffered shock defeats at the Wuhan Open as Ann Li and Jelena Ostapenko advanced. China’s Guo Hanyu reached her first WTA 1000 last 16, while Iga Swiatek and other contenders progressed.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka and second seed Jessica Pegula were eliminated from the Wuhan Open on Wednesday after suffering three-set defeats, while China’s Guo Hanyu secured a place in the last 16 of a WTA 1000 tournament for the first time in her career.
American player Ann Li ended Sabalenka’s pursuit of a fourth Wuhan Open title with a hard-fought 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory. The three-time champion started strongly, winning the opening set in 35 minutes, but Li fought back to level the match before producing a determined performance in the deciding set.
Sabalenka faced a difficult situation in the final set, trailing 2-5. However, the Belarusian saved five match points to hold serve, broke back and then saved two additional match points to force a tiebreak. Despite her resistance, Li maintained her composure and secured the biggest victory of the match.
Speaking after the contest, Li said she had faced immense pressure during the crucial moments but remained focused on taking the match point by point.
She acknowledged Sabalenka’s strong performance and said the victory demonstrated her continued improvement. Li added that staying positive, maintaining physical intensity and trusting her own game were essential to competing successfully against top-level opponents.
Sabalenka’s elimination ended her hopes of adding another Wuhan crown to the three titles she had previously won at the tournament.
Pegula also suffered an early exit after losing to Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko. The American, who finished runner-up at Wuhan last year, won the opening set 6-2 but could not maintain her advantage as Ostapenko fought back to claim a 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-3 victory.
Ostapenko’s comeback secured her progression to the next round and denied Pegula another opportunity to challenge for the Wuhan title.
Meanwhile, home favourite Guo Hanyu delighted Chinese supporters by defeating American Katie Volynets 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (3) in a closely contested encounter. The victory took Guo into the last 16 of a WTA 1000 event for the first time.
Guo won the opening set but Volynets responded in the second to force a decider. Both players continued to battle in the final set before Guo prevailed in the tiebreak to seal the match.
Reflecting on the contest, Guo said it had been another difficult match in which the score remained close until the final point. She explained that she focused on giving her best effort throughout the match and expressed happiness at securing another victory.
Guo now faces a challenging next-round assignment against fifth seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine. The Chinese player said she expected an even tougher contest and planned to concentrate on recovery and preparation to ensure she could compete at full strength.
Elsewhere in Wednesday’s action, seventh seed Iga Swiatek defeated Magdalena Frech in straight sets to advance. American teenager Iva Jovic, seeded 10th, also progressed after beating Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska 6-4, 6-1.
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Britain’s Sonay Kartal recorded another notable result by defeating ninth seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland 6-0, 7-5. Kartal dominated the opening set and held off Bencic’s challenge in the second to complete the straight-sets victory.
In another match, Canada’s Leylah Fernandez defeated China’s Shi Han 6-3, 6-4 to move forward in the tournament.
Wednesday’s results reshaped the Wuhan Open draw, with the exits of Sabalenka and Pegula opening opportunities for the remaining contenders. Guo’s breakthrough victory also provided a major highlight for the home crowd as the Chinese player continued her campaign against an experienced international field.
