Aryna Sabalenka overpowers Ashlyn Krueger for her 14th consecutive win

World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka made quick work of 20-year-old Ashlyn Krueger in the third round of the China Open on Monday, winning 6-2, 6-2. This extends her win streak to 14, which is one shy of her career-best.

Sabalenka entered the tournament after winning consecutive titles at Cincinnati and the U.S. Open and was playing some of her best tennis. She attributed the streak to her mental toughness.

“I think the way I’m controlling my emotions and the way I’m holding myself sometimes really helps me to stay in most of the matches, in those difficult situations to keep fighting and keep playing my best tennis,” she said at her post-match press conference.

Sabalenka dominated the opening of the first set, breaking Krueger’s first two service games and going up 4-0. They split the final four games with Sabalenka holding serve to end the set. Sabalenka’s serve was never broken, and she won 70 percent of her service points.

The second set had a similar beginning, with Sabalenka breaking Krueger’s serve twice to win five of the first six games. Although Sabalenka dominated the scoreboard, Krueger made it tough. Three of the six games went to deuce, with the sixth game going to deuce four times and ending in a Sabalenka win. Krueger stayed positive during the match, often smiling and taking it in stride after losing points. In the end, though, Sabalenka was overpowering as she held in the eighth and final game of the set to take the match.

As the No. 1 seed in the China Open, Sabalenka has a lot of expectations on her. During her career, she has been the No. 1 tournament seed 18 times but has won as the top seed only twice. This time, she is not thinking about the number by her name.

“Nowadays, I’m not focusing on that. It’s just the ranking. You can be world No. 1, and if you’re not bringing your best tennis, like, you’re not going to win the match,” Sabalenka said. “I’m just trying to focus on myself, on improving myself every day, and staying calm on court, just trying to bring my best fighting spirit on court.”

Sabalenka will face World No. 24 Madison Keys in the fourth round and attempt to reach her 10th consecutive tournament quarterfinal. Sabalenka has won three of her four meetings with Keys, most recently defeating her in the 2023 U.S. Open.

—Reporting by Ryan Loomer