Sabalenka equals the best winning streak of her career

Aryna Sabalenka has been virtually unstoppable since the Cincinnati Open in August. The Belarusian has now advanced to her tenth consecutive WTA quarter-final and equaled her career-best run of fifteen consecutive wins, a feat she previously achieved between the 2020 Ostrava and 2021 Dubai tournaments.

Facing an in-form Madison Keys in the fourth round of the China Open, Sabalenka delivered a confident performance on Wednesday, shooting 72% and capturing an impressive 84% of her first-serve points en route to a 6-4 6- 3 win. In total, she lost only five points on her first serve, effectively neutralizing Keys’ basic threats. The reigning US Open champion also saved both break points she faced, staying uninterrupted throughout the match.

Keys, despite her best efforts, was unable to match Sabalenka’s efficiency in serving. While the American played a clean game with 22 winners and just 10 unforced errors, her 56% first-time conversion rate was not enough to provide the edge needed against Sabalenka’s relentless attack.

Sabalenka’s 15-match winning streak started with her win at the Cincinnati Open in August and was sparked by her title run at the US Open. The three-time Grand Slam champion has won 30 of 31 sets during this remarkable period, with the only setback being a single set loss to Ekaterina Alexandrova in the third round of the US Open. The streak marks a continuation of Sabalenka’s dominance in 2024, where she already captured the Australian Open title earlier this year.

This will be Sabalenka’s third consecutive quarter-final appearance in Beijing, but she is yet to reach the semi-finals at the China Open. Her next challenge will come from US Open semi-finalist Karolina Muchova, who breezed past Spain’s Cristina Bucsa 6-2 6-0 to set up the quarter-finals. (source: WTA, photo: Jimmie48)