Sabalenka Stays on Top as Wuhan Open Round of 32 Delivers Shocks

When 2025 Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan OpenOptics Valley International Tennis Center, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China entered its third day, the drama on Center Court and Court 1 surged past expectations. The WTA‑1000 stop, sanctioned by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), featured 56 women battling for a share of $2.3 million in prize money, with 16 seeds poised to protect their rankings.

Why the Wuhan Open matters this season

Beyond the hefty purse, Wuhan marks the final heavyweight before the Asian swing wraps up in early November. Players treat it as a litmus test for form heading into the year‑ending championships in Istanbul. Historically, the tournament helped catapult a handful of future world No. 1s—think Petra Kvitová in 2011—so a strong showing here often predicts a deep run at the WTA Finals.

Round of 32 highlights – a day of comebacks and upsets

Aryna Sabalenka Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1 from Belarus and three‑time defending champion, stared down Slovakian qualifier Rebecca Sramkova. After dropping the opening set 4‑6, Sabalenka rattled off six straight games, sealing the match 4‑6, 6‑3, 6‑1. The win kept her unbeaten in Wuhan and preserved her record‑setting streak of three consecutive titles in the city.

In a crowd‑pleasing duel, Italy’s Jasmine Paolini (world No. 7) shrugged off a 3‑6 first‑set loss to the home hopeful Yuan Yue, rallying to 6‑4, 6‑3. The Italian’s heavy topspin forehand proved too much for the 20‑year‑old Chinese, and the stadium’s atmosphere, described by commentator Renata Zarazúa as "like a football match," surged with each point.

Another headline was the resurgence of Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina. The No. 8 seed dispatched Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian in straight sets, 6‑4, 7‑5, reminding fans why she clinched Wimbledon last year.

Perhaps the most nail‑biting finish involved Japan’s Naomi Osaka, world No. 11, who edged Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova 6‑7, 7‑6, 6‑2. After surviving two tiebreaks, Osaka’s powerful serve in the third set proved decisive.

Other notable victories: Belinda Bencic (Switzerland) swept Donna Vekic 6‑2, 6‑2; Emma Navarro (USA) turned a 2‑6 deficit into a 2‑6, 6‑2, 6‑3 win over Zhang Shuai; and Linda Noskova (seeded No. 7) overcame Yulia Putintseva 6‑4, 4‑6, 6‑2. The day ended with a retirement when Romania’s Sorana Cîrstea withdrew against Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko after trailing 2‑6, 1‑0.

Reactions from the locker room

Sabalenka, speaking to ESPN after her match, admitted the first‑set slip was “a reminder that I can’t take anything for granted in Wuhan.” She added, “The crowd energy here fuels me; I want to keep this streak alive.”

Paolini, meanwhile, praised the Chinese crowd: “Their cheers were louder than any I’ve heard in Europe. It felt like playing in front of a stadium full of friends.”

Osaka’s coach, Sascha Hartmann, highlighted the mental toughness needed to survive two tiebreaks: “Naomi’s experience in Grand Slam finals translates well to these pressure moments.”

What the round of 16 could hold

Looking ahead to October 9, the draw promises marquee clashes. On Center Court, Sabalenka (seed 1, odds -625) will face Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova (seed 16, odds +400) at 02:30 AM UTC. The pairing pits Sabalenka’s aggressive baseline play against Samsonova’s powerful serve—an encounter many predict will be a straight‑sets affair, but Samsonova’s recent upset over a top‑5 player in Beijing suggests she could spark a surprise.

American powerhouse Jessica Pegula (seed 6, odds -125) meets Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova (seed 9, odds +100) at 11:00 PM UTC. Pegula’s consistency on hard courts will be tested by Alexandrova’s heavy double‑faults, which have plagued her lately.

Other anticipated matches include Paolini versus Denmark’s Clara Tauson (seed 10) and Iva Jovic (USA) against Czech stalwart Katerina Siniakova. The outcomes will largely shape the semifinal picture, especially if a lower‑seeded player like Tauson continues her recent surge.

Historical backdrop – Wuhan’s comeback

The tournament returned in 2025 after a hiatus caused by the pandemic that halted the event after 2019. Its revival was backed by Dongfeng Voyah, a Chinese automotive brand eager to cement its global sports‑marketing portfolio. Since its inception in 2014, Wuhan has grown from a Tier‑II stop to a WTA‑1000 staple, thanks to its state‑of‑the‑art facilities and massive local fanbase. The Optics Valley venue, opened in 2019, seats 15,000 and boasts a retractable roof—crucial for weather‑prone October evenings.

In 2022, Sabalenka claimed her first Wuhan title, and she has defended it each year since, joining a select group of women who have won three consecutive titles at a single WTA‑1000 event. Her dominance adds a layer of narrative intrigue: can she become the first player to win four in a row?

Key Facts

• Event: 2025 Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open (WTA‑1000)
• Venue: Optics Valley International Tennis Center, Wuhan, China
• Prize Money: $2.3 million
• World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka won her Round of 32 match 4‑6, 6‑3, 6‑1
• Upcoming marquee: Sabalenka vs. Liudmila Samsonova (Round of 16)

What’s next for the contenders?

For Sabalenka, the path to a fourth straight title will require navigating a potentially scorching summer heat on the hard courts—a factor that has historically slowed players in Wuhan. Analysts at the WTA headquarters note that her heavy‑topspin forehand could be neutralized by Samsonova’s left‑handed slice, forcing Sabalenka to mix in more drop shots.

Paolini’s next test against Tauson will be a battle of experience versus youth. If Paolini can maintain her inside‑court aggression, she could slip into the semifinals and set up a possible quarter‑final showdown with Pegula, which would be a classic East‑West clash.

Osaka, despite the win, faces a grueling schedule. With the WTA Finals looming, she’ll likely use Wuhan as a springboard to regain confidence after a sluggish early‑season run.