Aryna Sabalenka said she channelled her frustration into ensuring she reached the China Open quarterfinals, after the world number one progressed despite an error-strewn second set against unseeded Jasmine Paolini in Beijing on Thursday.
Sabalenka eventually beat the Italian 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) to set up a tie with fifth-ranked Elena Rybakina in the next round on Friday.
Earlier, US Open champion Coco Gauff shook off an indifferent first-set performance to glide into the quarterfinals with victory over Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova.
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The world number three triumphed 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 to set up a tie with Greece’s Maria Sakkari, who beat homegrown talent Wang Xinyu 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
