Aryna Sabalenka sets record for appearances in the WTA 1000 round of 16.

Aryna Sabalenka delivered an impressive performance by defeating Wang Xinyu in just 54 minutes, thus advancing to the fourth round of the Cincinnati Open. The current world number one sealed the victory with a clear 6-1, 6-3, preparing to face Sara Bejlek in the next stage of the tournament.

After a challenging start to the season, with underwhelming performances on clay and grass surfaces, Sabalenka is determined to win her first WTA title since the Miami Open in March. Her performance at the Cincinnati Open has been convincing, especially with the elimination of strong competitors such as Elina Svitolina, Naomi Osaka, Belinda Bencic, and Alex Eala, providing her with a clearer path to the title.

With this victory, Sabalenka reached a significant milestone: she became the player with the most appearances in the round of 16 at Masters tournaments, totaling 45 participations, a record that places her ahead of Karolina Pliskova, who has 44, and Elina Svitolina, with 43. Before her victory, both were tied, but now Sabalenka holds this achievement outright. Her rivals Svitolina, Iga Swiatek, and Jessica Pegula are also at a considerable distance, suggesting that the Belarusian player may hold this record for a long time.

Luck seems to be on Sabalenka's side, as Svitolina has withdrawn from the tournament due to an injury to her right ankle, which prevented her from competing in the third round. Svitolina revealed: “Unfortunately, I tried my best to recover, but the injury I suffered in Toronto, along with the load from the second-round match, did not allow me to recover as I would have liked to be ready for the next round.” With Svitolina's exit, Sabalenka may see a more favorable path to the later stages of the tournament.

If Sabalenka manages to defeat Bejlek, her next challenge will be against Wang Xiyu or Madison Keys to secure a place in the semi-finals. If all goes well, she could face Coco Gauff in the semi-finals and potentially Elena Rybakina or Swiatek in the final, putting her in an excellent position to end a five-month title drought on the WTA tour. The match between Sabalenka and Bejlek is scheduled for Thursday, August 20, with the order of play yet to be confirmed.