Seeking an 11th successive quarter-final appearance at a WTA event, Aryna Sabalenka takes on Yulia Putintseva on centre court at the Wuhan Open on Thursday.
The reigning US Open singles champion won her opening round match at this tournament versus Katerina Siniakova 6-4 6-4, while Putintseva outlasted Donna Vekic in three sets, 6-4 3-6 6-4.
Match preview
Seeking a third successive singles tournament victory on tour, Aryna Sabalenka began the Wuhan Open with an impressive opening match, putting up a first serve percentage of 83%.
Her powerful groundstrokes and massive serve are a big reason why she has claimed two Grand Slam singles titles in 2024 and had such a successful year overall.
Over the past six months, the Belarusian has been a model of consistency, reaching at least the quarter-finals in her previous nine singles tournaments.
In 62 matches played this year, Sabalenka has often overpowered her opponents with her serve, hitting 278 aces and winning 71% of her first serve points.
Sabalenka is equally solid at returning serves, winning 45.2% of her return points this year while converting 46.2% of her break points.
Only once in 2024 has she been knocked out of a tournament after one match, losing her opener on the hard court at the Dubai Duty Free Championships in February versus Vekic.
For the first time since the Cincinnati Open in August, Yulia Putintseva is into the last 16 of a WTA tournament, maintaining her composure in the decisive third set of her match with Vekic.
The 29-year-old from Kazakhstan won over half of her break points in her round of 32 clash (7/16) and boasted a 72% on her first serve to prevail.
On Thursday, she can advance into the quarter-finals of a major tournament for the first time since winning the Rothesay Classic in June over Ajla Tomljanovic (6-1 7-6).
She has not made it beyond the last 16 of a WTA singles event on the hard court since the Miami Open in March, when she took out Anhelina Kalinina at this stage before losing in the quarter-finals versus Victoria Azarenka.
To this stage of the year, she has a first serve percentage of 69.8%, winning 61.4% of her first serves while winning 68% of her service games.
Putintseva does not have a huge serve, hitting only 63 aces this year, but she makes up for that in the return game, winning 41% of her return games in 2024 and converting 51.6% of her break points.
Tournament so far
Aryna Sabalenka:
Round of 32: vs. Katerina Siniakova 6-4 6-4
Yulia Putintseva:
Round of 64: vs. Zhang Shuai 6-4 6-4
Round of 32: vs. Donna Vekic 6-4 3-6 6-4
Head To Head
US Open (2019) - Second Round: Putintseva wins 6-3 7-6
It has been over five years since these two last met, and on that occasion, Sabalenka was her own worst enemy, registering 11 double faults.
Despite winning three of her four break point opportunities, Sabalenka ultimately lost to Putintseva, with the latter winning 52% of her second serves.
We say: Sabalenka to win in three sets
As long as Sabalenka does not get in her own way too much, we believe her shot-making ability will propel her to victory against a capable opponent in Putintseva.
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