Iga Swiatek moved into a second consecutive Wuhan Open quarter-final on Thursday, beating American lucky loser Ashlyn Krueger 6-1, 6-4. The six-time Grand Slam champion also recorded the 150th WTA 1000 win of her career as she chases a 13th title at that level.
Since the Tier I/WTA 1000 format was introduced in 1990, Swiatek is only the third player to reach 150 wins from her first 50 main-draw appearances in such events. She sits behind Martina Hingis (162) and Serena Williams (153) on that list.
Swiatek eyes a title as the WTA Finals race tightens
The seventh seed said she had wanted to focus on adjusting and being brave. “For sure I feel like I am playing better than at the beginning of the season, so I’m ready to push,” she said.
Swiatek needs a title this week to strengthen her chances of qualifying for next month’s WTA Finals in Indian Wells. The 25-year-old Pole will face Ann Li or Janice Tjen in the quarter-finals.
Sabalenka, Pegula and other seeds fall in Wuhan
Swiatek is one of just two top-10 seeds still in a draw that has seen a slew of high-profile exits. The top two seeds, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula, departed in shocking fashion, and sixth-seeded Karolina Muchova and 10th-seeded Iva Jovic also lost.
Maja Chwalinska, a French Open finalist this year, beat world number 11 Jovic 6-4, 6-1 and will face Greece’s Maria Sakkari next. Diana Shnaider won 7-5, 6-3 against Muchova, the Russian’s fourth career win over a top-10 opponent, and will play Jelena Ostapenko for a place in the final four.
British world number 170 Sonay Kartal knocked out ninth-seeded Belinda Bencic in the second round. She then beat last year’s Wuhan semi-finalist Jasmine Paolini, the 15th seed, 6-2, 6-0. World number six Elina Svitolina also advanced, ending the run of Chinese wild card Guo Hanyu 6-1, 6-4.
