Zheng Qinwen of China serves during the Wuhan Open in Wuhan, China, October 9, 2024. /CFP
Home favorite Zheng Qinwen booked her place in the last 16 of the Wuhan Open following a straight sets victory over wild card Jaqueline Cristian on Wednesday.
The fifth seeded Zheng, a semi-finalist in Beijing last week, won three games in a row, coming from 2-1 down in the opener to take control at 4-2. The Chinese continued to break with a forehand winner. The Paris Olympics champion went on to claim the first set 6-2 with an ace.
Cristian had her moments and was able to break to lead 3-1 in the second, but Zheng quickly slammed the door shut as the 22-year-old broke the Belgian to go 3-2 with a backhand drop shot.
Five of the next six games went her way and Zheng completed a 6-2, 6-4 win in an hour and 42 minutes. The local favorite will next face the unseeded Leylah Fernandez for a place in the quarterfinals.
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus takes a selfie with spectators at the Wuhan Open in Wuhan, China, October 9, 2024. /CFP
In other action, top seed Aryna Sabalenka defeated Katerina Siniakova. Tied at 2-2, the pair had several exchanges at the net and Sabalenka landed a forehand drop in a 6-4 first set win.
The Belarusian continued the momentum in the second and the three-time Grand Slam winner defeated the Czech in the 10th game to seal the win 6-4, 6-4. She will play Yulia Putintseva in the third round.
Coco Gauff of the United States serves at the Wuhan Open in Wuhan, China, October 9, 2024. /CFP
And Coco Gauff defeated Viktoriya Tomova in the second round. The American won last week's China Open and dominated the first with a 6-1 win.
Gauff continued the good form to take the second 6-2 when Tomova returned to the net. The world number four sets up a last 16 meeting with Marta Kostyuk.