World number two Aryna Sabalenka got her clay court season underway with a straight-sets victory on Wednesday over Barbora Krejcikova in the pair’s fourth meeting of 2023.
Australian Open champion Sabalenka saw off her 12th-ranked Czech rival 6-2, 6-3 in just 75 minutes to become the first player into the quarter-finals.
Sabalenka, the runner-up in Stuttgart to Ashleigh Barty in 2021 and Iga Swiatek last year, had lost to Krejcikova in Dubai this season but gained revenge at Indian Wells and Miami. Wednesday was their first career meeting on clay and Sabalenka was rarely threatened by the 2021 French Open champion.
“It’s really difficult, but at the same time it helps me to learn how to stay focused from the first rounds and fight for every point,” said Sabalenka on facing a fellow Grand Slam champion.
She hit 10 aces and never faced a break point as she cantered to her 21st win of the season, behind only Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina, who have each won 22 matches so far this year.
Wimbledon champion Rybakina reached that mark Wednesday with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Germany’s Jule Niemeier.
Source: SABC
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