Sabalenka cruises into Cincinnati last 16, will face seed-killer Bejlek next

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka needed just an hour to beat Chinese Xinyu Wang 6-1, 6-3 and reach the last 16 of the Cincinnati Open on Tuesday night, setting up a meeting with Czech Sara Bejlek, who continued her breakout week by beating Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova, the No 16 seed, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Sabalenka’s win was her 45th career trip to a WTA 1000 last-16, surpassing Karolina Pliskova’s 44 for the most of any active player. It is also her fifth WTA 1000 last-16 of the season, her 40th win of the year, and her seventh appearance at this stage in Cincinnati in the last eight years.

Sabalenka was imperious throughout, losing just a single point on her second serve across the entire match (on 15 points).

She had reached this round by beating Australian Talia Gibson 6-2, 7-6 (2) in the previous round, while Wang, ranked No 36, had beaten Croatian Donna Vekic, the No 31 seed, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, and Belgian qualifier Hanne Vandewinkel, 6-4, 6-3, earlier in the tournament.

Sabalenka and Bejlek will meet for a place in the quarterfinals.

Cincinnati WTA 1000, 3rd Round (Round of 32)

• A. Sabalenka (1) d. X. Wang; 6-1, 6-3
• S. Bejlek d. E. Alexandrova (16): 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
• M. Keys (19) d. K. Siniakova (33): 6-1, 6-3
• X. Wang d. E. Svitolina (8): W.O.
• C. Gauff (4) vs A. Li (28); 6-1, 7-6
• M. Bouzkova (22) d. I. Jovic (15): 7-6, 7-6
• M. Kostyuk (10) d. S. Stephens: 7-5, 7-5
• M. Andreeva (5) d. J. Tjen (32): 6-1, 7-6
• L. Noskova (6) d. O. Tauson (27): 7-6, 6-2
• A. Anisimova (9) d. A. Eala (17): 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
• S. Cirstea (16) vs A. Kalinskaya (19), 6-7, 6-1, 5-0, ret.
• J. Pegula (3) d. E. Navarro (25): 7-5, 6-2
• I. Swiatek (7) vs M. Sakkari (29): 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
• D. Perry d. L. Boisson: 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
• D. Shnaider (14) vs M. Chwalinska (19): 6-2, 7-6
• E. Rybakina (2) vs Frech: 6-4, 7-6

Cincinnati WTA 1000, Round of 16

• A. Sabalenka (1) vs S. Bejlek
• M. Keys (19) vs X. Wang
• C. Gauff (4) vs M. Bouzkova (22)
• M. Kostyuk (10) vs M. Andreeva (5)
• L. Noskova (6) vs A. Anisimova (9)
• S. Cirstea (16) vs J. Pegula (3)
• I. Swiatek (7) vs D. Perry
• D. Shnaider (14) vs E. Rybakina (2)