Rybakina Runs Away From Andreeva, Pegula Upset; Gauff v Kudermetova Thurs.

In the match of the day in Beijing, former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina rallied from a set down to defeat teen Mirra Andreeva in three sets 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.

The 16-year-old Andreeva, seeking her first Top 10 win, eased in front building a 6-2, 3-2 lead in the second with a break. That’s when Rybakina took over winning nine of the last 11 games. She finished with 10 aces.

“Today, I had a tough opponent, very young, she’s fighting and running a lot, and she has a good ball also, so I didn’t start really well,” Rybakina told the WTA. “In the second, I managed to turn it around, and in the third, I think it was a bit better serve and I was going for the ball.

“It’s unusual to play someone young like this. Of course, it’s not easy … She’s a great player, and if she continues like this, it’s going to be really, really tough, and I think we’re going to have more battles in the future.”

No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek enjoyed an easty victory over (31y,23r) Magda Linette 6-1, 6-1. The former No. 1 lost just three points on first serve and never faced a break point.

No. 13 seed Jelena Ostapenko had the upset of the day ousting No. 4 Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-2. And Liudmila Samsonova of Russia won a tight one over Marta Kostyuk in 6-4, 6-7(4-7), 7-5.

“I think I always play quite well in China,” Ostapenko said to the WTA. “Finally tournaments are back here and with a lot of fans, which I like a lot.

“I think after US Open I had a little bit more confidence and I had really good preparation before US Open. I felt like some matches, even during the year, they were close matches. I was losing them but they were very close. I felt like at some point they have to go my way. It’s working now.”

On Thursday in round of 16 play, No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka returns to take on Jasmine Paolini. The two have split two head-to-head tour-level meetings with the Italian winning at Indian Wells last year.

Paolini was victorious in their most recent meeting in the 2022 Indian Wells R64.

No. 3 Coco Gauff will challenge No. 16 Veronika Kudermetova. The are 1-1 with Gauff winning this year at Stuttgart. Both are coming off of titles. Gauff has won her last 14 matches.

No. 9 Caroline Garcia takes on Anhelina Kalinina and No. 6 Maria Sakkari meets Wang Xinyu.

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