By Pearl Josephine Nazare, Reuters.
Aryna Sabalenka’s difficult run of form continued on Wednesday as the Belarusian top seed crashed out of the Wuhan Open, falling 3-6 6-4 7-6(5) to unseeded American Ann Li in the round of 32.
The defeat extended a barren spell for the four-time Grand Slam champion, who has not lifted a trophy since completing the ‘Sunshine Double’ with titles at Indian Wells and Miami earlier this year.
Sabalenka reached the US Open final last month but lost to Elena Rybakina, ensuring the 28-year-old would finish the season without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2022.
She also suffered a third-round exit at the China Open earlier this month and surrendered the world number one ranking to Rybakina following the US Open.
The early exit came at a tournament where Sabalenka has enjoyed considerable success. She won the Wuhan title in 2018, 2019 and 2024, with the WTA 1000 event not held from 2020-23 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Li, ranked 31st in the world, earned the biggest win of her career after recovering from 4-2 down in the second set to force a decider.
Sabalenka’s hopes appeared all but over when she fell 4-1 behind in the final set and took a medical timeout, but she mounted a late fightback, saving five match points and holding serve for 5-3.
Li, however, kept her composure to finally convert her 10th match point and seal a memorable upset.
Sabalenka’s error-strewn display proved costly, as she struck 44 unforced errors compared with Li’s 28 during the two-hour, 27-minute battle.
Earlier on Wednesday, American second seed Jessica Pegula also exited the tournament, with 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko rallying from a set down to secure a 2-6 7-6(7) 6-3 victory.