By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Photo credit: Wang He/Getty
Aryna Sabalenka worked overtime in her return to tournament tennis—and got back to the business of winning.
In her first match since capturing the US Open, Sabalenka rallied to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 over Rebecca Sramkova to remain unbeaten at the Wuhan Open.
Three-time champion Sabalenka improved to 18-0 lifetime in Wuhan, but it wasn’t easy.
“I knew it would be not easy after the break to get into my rhythm but I am glad in the second set I found my game, I stepped in and I played really great,” said Sabalenka, who played her first match since her September 6th US Open final win over Amanda Anisimova.
“I have to say she played incredible tennis, especially in the first set and there was not much I could do.”
The world No. 1 had to shake off the rust as Sramkova, who belted nine aces today, built a one-set lead and played with conviction.
Empowered by her run to her fourth career major championship in Flushing Meadows, Sabalenka staved off nine of 11 break points today.
Sabalenka won eight of the first 10 points played on her serve in the second set then broke for a 3-1 second-set lead. From there, the top-seeded Belarusian burst through seven of the last eight games.
Sabalenka raised her 2025 record to 57-10.
The owner of nine WTA 1000 championships, Sabalenka will face Liudmila Samsonova in the round of 16.
The 16th-seeded Samsonova smacked 12 aces against two double faults in a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 win over former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.
Sabalenka said she’s embraced massive fan support and ongoing success in Wuhan.
Photo credit: Wuhan Open/CVG
“First I was ‘Daughter of China’, then ‘Queen of Fried Rice’, ” Sabalenka said of her Wuhan nicknames.
“And then I talked to Qinwen and they actually call me ‘Tiger’. So many nicknames. I won so many tournaments here and it feels like home, I hope I can go all the way.”
