WUHAN, China – Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka saved nine match points before losing in three sets to Ann Li at the Wuhan Open on Wednesday. The four-time major winner needed treatment on her taped-up right knee during a dramatic last-32 match.
Li came back from 4-2 down in the second set to beat Sabalenka, a three-time champion, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5). The American clinched the win on her 10th match point, but it was the first one she had on her own serve.
It is now two straight losses for Sabalenka, who was beaten by Nikola Bartunkova in the round of 32 at the China Open last week. Her previous event was the U.S. Open, where she lost in the final to Elena Rybakina.
Sabalenka Recovers, But Falls Short
Sabalenka trailed 4-1 in the deciding set when she called for treatment on her right knee, which was already taped. She then fell behind 5-2 before recovering to 5-5 and forcing a tiebreaker. Li hit a big forehand winner on her last match point, securing one of the biggest wins of her career.
Earlier, second-seeded Jessica Pegula squandered three match points and lost to Jelena Ostapenko in three sets. It was the American’s first match in more than a month.
Ostapenko won 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-3 in an unlikely comeback. She saved match points on three occasions in the second set against Pegula, who had not played since losing to Sabalenka in the U.S. Open semifinals.
Pegula, a finalist in Wuhan last year, took an extended break and missed events in Singapore and Beijing because of the physical toll of her busy summer schedule.
Swiatek and Others Advance
Iga Swiatek had a much easier time, advancing to the round of 16 with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Magdalena Frech. The six-time major winner started slowly, dropping an early service game and falling behind 2-0. She then won six straight games to take the first set and continued her momentum by winning four straight games to open the second.
Swiatek is seeded No. 7 in the WTA 1,000-level event. She reached the quarterfinals of the recent China Open in Beijing.
In other second-round matches, No. 5 Elina Svitolina defeated Liudmila Samsonova 6-2, 5-7, 6-2. No. 170-ranked Sonay Kartal upset No. 9 seed Belinda Bencic 6-0, 7-5. Sixth-seeded Karolina Muchova beat Caty McNally 3-6, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (4) and will next face Diana Shnaider.