Iga Swiatek kept up her push to qualify for the WTA Finals, grinding out a 6-1, 6-4 win over American Ashlyn Krueger on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Wuhan Open. Her victory also capitalised on a defeat for Karolina Muchova.
Krueger, who entered the draw as a lucky loser after losing in qualifying, put pressure on Swiatek for parts of the second set. She committed 44 unforced errors, though, compared with 27 from the Polish player.
Swiatek will face another American in the last eight. Earlier on Thursday, Ann Li eliminated Indonesia’s Janice Tjen 6-1, 7-6 (1).
A title in Wuhan would allow Swiatek to close the gap on Muchova in the Race to the WTA Finals rankings ahead of the season-ending event next month in Indian Wells, California. Swiatek, who has reached the final every year since 2021, sits 10th in the Race, and the top eight qualify.
Muchova and Svitolina Progress
Wimbledon finalist and sixth seed Karolina Muchova lost 7-5, 6-3 to 11th seed Diana Shnaider, who next plays former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.
Fifth seed Elina Svitolina broke the serve of Chinese wild card Guo Hanyu in the opening and final games, winning 6-1, 6-4 to advance. Guo was coming off a breakout run that included her first career win over a top-20 player, when she beat Sorana Cirstea in the first round despite being ranked 240th.
Svitolina, who lost in the quarterfinals of the China Open last week to eventual champion Zheng Qinwen, will next play Sonay Kartal. The British player stunned Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-0 in barely an hour.
Sabalenka and Pegula Exit
Tenth seed and young American Iva Jovic was upset 6-4, 6-1 by Maja Chwalinska.
On Wednesday, top seed Aryna Sabalenka and second seed Jessica Pegula lost their second-round matches. It was a second straight defeat for Sabalenka, who was beaten by Nikola Bartunkova in the third round at the China Open last week. She had received a bye in the opening round in Wuhan.