**SABALENKA ON FIRE, OSAKA GETS READY TO SLAM GAUFF**

In Beijing, the China Open tennis tournament is underway, and some of the world’s top players are making their mark. One standout performer is Belarusian tennis star, Aryna Sabalenka, who extended her winning streak to 14 matches with a convincing 6-2, 6-2 victory over American player Ashlyn Krueger.

Sabalenka’s impressive form on hard courts has been a highlight of the season, with her recent wins including titles at Cincinnati and the US Open. She’s also had success on other surfaces, taking home the Australian Open title earlier this year.

In her match against Krueger, Sabalenka showcased her dominance, converting five of seven breakpoint opportunities to secure a straightforward win. Next, she’ll face Madison Keys, aiming to equal her personal best of 15 consecutive victories, achieved in 2020-21.

Keys, meanwhile, had a strong outing against Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil, winning 6-3, 6-3. Haddad Maia, fresh from her Korea Open win last week, struggled to counter Keys’ powerful baseline play.

Another notable performance came from former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka, who continued her upward trend under new coach Patrick Mouratoglou. Osaka defeated Katie Volynets 6-3, 6-2, setting up a highly anticipated round of 16 match against sixth-ranked Coco Gauff.

The two Grand Slam champions have a tied head-to-head record of 2-2, and Osaka is relishing the opportunity to test herself against Gauff. “It’s going to be a really cool test for me,” Osaka said. “She’s played really well this year. I’m excited to play the match, and I know people are excited to watch the match.”

Osaka, who returned to competition after maternity leave at the start of the season, fired five aces and produced three service breaks in her win over Volynets. Her current form marks the first time since May that she’s had three consecutive wins.

In other matches, Anna Kalinskaya advanced when Peyton Stearns retired from their contest, while Karolina Muchova beat Jaqueline Cristian 6-1, 6-3. Andrey Rublev, meanwhile, overcame Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-4, 7-5 in a match delayed due to rain. Rublev will face local favorite Bu Yunchaokete in the quarterfinals.

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