Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1 and top seed at the 2026 Cincinnati Open, delivered a commanding performance on Tuesday, defeating Wang Xinyu in straight sets to advance to the Round of 16. The match, held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, lasted just 54 minutes, with Sabalenka prevailing 6-1, 6-3.
A Dominant Display in the Third Round
From the outset, Sabalenka established control, limiting Wang to a single game in the first set. The Belarusian star countered Wang’s defensive lobs with powerful groundstrokes, maintaining composure throughout the encounter. Impressively, Sabalenka never faced a break point during the entire match.
Although Wang improved her baseline play early in the second set, Sabalenka quickly regained momentum after a brief dip in form. Beginning with the seventh game, the top seed pulled away decisively, closing out the match without major resistance.
The statistics underscored Sabalenka’s dominance: she converted four of seven break-point opportunities and secured 53 out of 83 points overall. Her serving remained flawless, featuring multiple aces and return winners while never conceding her service game.
Looking ahead, Sabalenka’s next challenge comes from Czech rising star Sara Bejlek, who advanced by overcoming Ekaterina Alexandrova in a three-set battle, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. This sets the stage for an intriguing Round of 16 clash at the prestigious WTA 1000 event.