Beijing (AFP) – Without playing since her defeat in the final of the US Open, which also cost her the No. 1 ranking, the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka reappeared this Friday with a resounding victory against the Mexican Renata Zarazúa at the WTA 1000 in Beijing.

First modification: 02/10/2026 - 15:50

The now world No. 2 (28 years old) beat the Mexican (WTA No. 94) by a clear 6-1 and 6-3 in just over an hour (62 minutes) and will face the Czech Nikola Bartunkova in the next round.

Zarazúa had no option against Sabalenka whose serve worked perfectly (she won 32 of 39 points with her serve), without conceding a single break point.

"I tried to be aggressive with my serve and also with the rest. I am very happy with the game I played today," Sabalenka explained.

Before, another former number 1, the Japanese Naomi Osaka, survived a tough duel against the Uzbek Maria Timofeeva to win 6-3, 3-6 and 6-3 and qualify for the third round, in which the four-time Grand Slam champion will face the Czech Sara Bejlek.

The current Roland Garros champion, Russian Mirra Andreeva, began by losing the first set against local Yuan Yue, but then had no problems coming back and won 3-6, 6-0, 6-0.

- Second round results of the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing:

Linda Nosková (CZE/N.5) defeated Gabriela Ruse (RUM) 6-4, 6-1

Viktorija Golubic (SUI) beats Peyton Stearns (USA/N.28) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS/N.19) beats Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) 6-1, 6-4

Diana Shnaider (RUS/N.11) beats Janice Tjen (INA) 6-0, 6-4

Daria Snigur (UKR) defeats Jasmine Paolini (ITA/N.14) 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2

Taylah Preston (AUS) beats Diane Parry (FRA/N.22) 7-6 (7/4), 6-1

Polina Kudermetova (UZB) beats Clara Tauson (DEN/N.32) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4

Mirra Andreeva (RUS/N.4) to Yuan Yue (CHN) 3-6, 6-0, 6-0

Karolína Muchová (CZE/N.7) beats Katie Boulter (GBR) 7-6 (7/3), 6-1

Liudmila Samsonova (RUS/N.29) defeats Linda Fruhvirtová (CZE) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3

Sára Bejlek (CZE/N.20) beats Maddison Inglis (AUS) 6-3, 7-5

Naomi Osaka (JPN/N.12) beats Maria Timofeeva (UZB) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3

Sinja Kraus (AUT) to Anastasia Potapova (AUT/N.16) 4-1 and abandonment

Dayana Yastremska (UKR) defeats Maja Chwalinska (POL/N.17) 6-3, 6-1

Nikola Bartunková (CZE/N.26) beats Magdalena Frech (POL) 6-2, 6-2

© 2026 AFP

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