Sabalenka Storms to Wuhan Open Semifinals: A Straight-Set Showdown with Rybakina
10 October 2025
Match recap
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elina Rybakina in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, to reach the Wuhan Open semi-finals in the 1000-point category. The Belarusian played near flawless tennis in the quarterfinals, sealing the match in one hour and 25 minutes. Their previous meetings left Sabalenka ahead 7-5, and all seven prior wins came in three-set affairs across different surfaces and venues.
Sabalenka's Wuhan record is now 20-0. She is two wins from a fourth Wuhan title, while the US Open champion carries a nine-match winning streak and will face the sixth-seeded American Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals. Sabalenka leads their overall head-to-head 8-2, including 4-0 in the last two seasons.
Semis setup
In the other quarterfinal, Pegula came through in three sets, overturning Katarina Siniakova after dropping the first set 2-6, then sweeping the second 6-0 and winning the decider 6-3 to reach the semis.
After the win, Pegula spoke about her fitness, emphasizing she feels good physically and is embracing the grind. The American has played a string of three-set matches this year and joked that she would be happy to win every remaining match in three sets.
Heading into the semis, Pegula holds a 5-2 record in seven battles this year and has logged three straight deep runs in 2025. Sabalenka, meanwhile, eyes another Wuhan title and a strong finish to the season.
Punchline 1: If humor were a weapon, this article would be a sniper—precision, impact, and absolutely no missing the target (even if the crowd ducks for a second cup of coffee).
Punchline 2: In tennis and life, timing is everything; apparently my jokes practice their own three-set drama before they even reach the audience.
