Aryna Sabalenka saved nine match points before losing in three sets to Ann Li at the Wuhan Open on Wednesday, in a dramatic last-32 match that left the top seed and four-time major winner needing treatment on her taped-up right knee.
Li came from 4-2 down in the second set to beat Sabalenka, a three-time champion in Wuhan, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5). The American sealed victory with her 10th match point, the first one on her own serve.
It is now two straight defeats for Sabalenka, who lost to Nikola Bartunkova in the round of 32 at the China Open last week. Her previous event was the US Open, where she lost in the final to Elena Rybakina.
Sabalenka trailed 4-1 in the deciding set when she called for treatment on her right knee. She then fell 5-2 behind before recovering to 5-5 and forcing a tiebreak. Li hit a big forehand winner on her last match point, securing one of the biggest wins of her career.
Pegula Squanders Three Match Points
Earlier, second seed Jessica Pegula let three match points slip away and lost to Jelena Ostapenko in three sets. It was the American’s first match in more than a month.
Ostapenko won 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-3 in an unlikely comeback. She saved match points on three occasions in the second set against Pegula, who had not played since losing to Sabalenka in the US Open semifinals.
Pegula, a finalist in Wuhan last year, took an extended break and missed events in Singapore and Beijing because of the physical toll of her busy summer schedule.
Swiatek Cruises Into Round of 16
Iga Swiatek had a much easier time, advancing to the round of 16 with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Magdalena Frech.
The six-time major winner started slowly, dropping an early service game and falling 2-0 behind. She then won six straight games to take the first set and carried that momentum into the second, winning four straight games to open it. Seeded seventh in the WTA 1,000-level event, Swiatek reached the quarterfinals of the recent China Open in Beijing.
Other Second-Round Results
Fifth seed Elina Svitolina beat Liudmila Samsonova 6-2, 5-7, 6-2. World No. 170 Sonay Kartal upset ninth seed Belinda Bencic 6-0, 7-5.
Sixth seed Karolina Muchova defeated Caty McNally 3-6, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (4). She will next face Diana Shnaider.