Aryna Sabalenka improved to 20-0 in Wuhan following her win over Elena Rybakina and that made her the fourth female player since 1990 to get to at least 20 wins at a WTA tournament in as many matches.
In 2019, Sabalenka enjoyed a dream debut in Wuhan after winning six matches - including a win over former world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty - to clinch the title. The following year, the Belarusian returned to the tournament and successfully defended her title after ending on the winning side in six additional matches.
Due to the pandemic, Wuhan didn't host a WTA tournament for four years. Last year, it returned to the circuit and Sabalenka continued where she left off - the only difference was that she needed to win five matches last year. This year, the defending champion is in the midst of another promising run at the tournament after beating Rebecca Sramkova, Liudmila Samsonova and Elena Rybakina to reach the semifinal.
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Sabalenka the fourth WTA player since 1990 to have a 20-0 record at a tournament
By winning all of her first 20 matches played in Wuhan, the 27-year-old Belarusian joined Monica Seles, Steffi Graf and Caroline Wozniacki and Caroline Wozniacki in achieving a very rare feat.
Against Rybakina, Sabalenka delivered a clinical display and routed the 2022 Wimbledon champion 6-3 6-3.
"We have a really huge history against each other. Always great battles, always push me to the limit to get the win," the world No. 1 said in her on-court interview after beating Rybakina.
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Sabalenka will aim her 21st win at the Chinese WTA 1000 tournament when she meets Jessica Pegula in the semifinal.
