Former world No. 1 Muguruza falls to Sabalenka in China Open

BEIJING: Former world number one Garbine Muguruza was beaten 7-5, 6-4 by Aryna Sabalenka in the China Open second round while an ailing Jelena Ostapenko lost 6-0, 6-0 to Wang Qiang.

Sabalenka, who claimed her second title of the season at the Wuhan Open last week, edged a tight opening set and the Belarusian took control in the next to overpower Spaniard Muguruza and secure victory in an hour and 46 minutes.

Former French Open champion Ostapenko struggled with a wrist injury before losing to local hope Wang Qiang in 55 minutes.

Guangzhou champion Wang Qiang, who has won 14 of her last 17 matches, next plays former world number one Karolina Pliskova or Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

World number three Angelique Kerber fought back from 5-3 down in the first set to beat Carla Suarez Navarro 7-6 (7-4), 6-1.

US Open champion Naomi Osaka crushed Danielle Collins 6-1, 6-0 to set up a clash with 10th seed Julia Goerges who beat the Japanese the last time they met in Charleston this season.

American Sloane Stephens took advantage of an error-prone display by China’s Zheng Saisai to win 6-1, 6-3 and set up a clash with Dominika Cibulkova who beat Daria Gavrilova 6-3 6-3.

In the men’s draw, top seed Juan Martin del Potro called for on-court treatment but was mostly comfortable in beating Spain’s Albert RamosVinolas 7-5, 6-2 in his opener.

“It was a difficult start to the tournament for me,” said the giant Argentine, the losing US Open finalist, adding that he twisted his knee in the second half of the match.

“It was nothing dangerous,” he added.

Del Potro, enjoying the best season of his injury-disrupted career, faces Russia’s Karen Khachanov next.

Also safely into round two is second seed Alexander Zverev, who defeated Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4, and third seed Grigor Dimitrov.

None of the “Big Four” of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray are in action in the China Open in Beijing. — Agencies