WORLD number two Aryna Sabalenka showed a fierce determination in her opening round match at the National Bank Open, dismanting China’s Yue Yuan in a breezy 92-minute match on the Toronto hardcourt.

Sabalenka disappointingly fell at the semi-final stage of the Citi Open last week in a shock loss to Czech Marie Bouzkova, but quickly regrouped from her defeat in DC to get back to work north of the border. Sabalenka won 6-2 6-2 against the world number 42, coming into the tournament with a 32-10 record compared to Yuan’s 21-16.

After Yuan held serve in the first game of the match, Sabalenka rolled out three consecutive games, breaking Yuan with a mix of power and precision drop shots. The Chinese talent was run ragged and did her best, holding serve in the fifth game, only for Sabalenka to break again two games late and serve out the fist set 6-2.

The second set looked a lot closer as Yuan rallied to break Sabalenka and go to a 2-0 lead. From there though, it was all Sabalenka who won six consecutive games and even when Yuan had game points on serve, did not let up, cruising to a 6-2 6-2 victory.

Returning from a shoulder injury, Sabalenka said she was always a little hesitant back in DC, but she feels a lot better now.

“That’s been really tricky to play the first tournament, because you are overprotective,” Sabalenka said post-match. “You’re trying not to overdo stuff, you are protecting your shoulder, and I think that creates more tension. I was super sore in Washington, and coming here we did a lot of recovery, a lot of mobility stretches. 

“Now I feel much better with my shoulder, I realise that I don’t have to protect it, that it’s done, it’s clean, I can go for it without fear that I can get injured again. Right now I feel more free on court and nothing bothering me there and it’s out of my mind, so it means that I can stay focused on the game and just compete and do my best.”

Sabalenka only hit four aces, but won 76 per cent of her first serve points compared to Yuan’s 63 per cent, and converted five breaks from 13 chances. She won 52 per cent of her return points, while Yuan only managed to get up in 16 of 47 (34 per cent) when returning.

Sabalenka will take on Great Britain’s Katie Boulter in the Round of 16 after the Brit only spent 17 minutes and two games on court with Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia before her opponent withdrew.

AROUND THE COURTS

A couple of former world number ones had varied results on day three, as Victoria Azarenka came from behind to oust a determined Greet Minnen. The Belgian qualifier won the first set, before Azarenka stepped up to force a decider and ran away with it in the end, 3-6 7-5 6-1. However Minnen’s compatriot Elise Mertens got the better of another former number one in wildcard Naomi Osaka, ripping past the Japanese Grand Slam winner in 91 minutes, 6-3 6-4.

It was a good day for the Americans too with top ranked star Coco Gauff, qualifier Ashlyn Krueger, the talented Amanda Anisimova, seeded Emma Navarro and lucky loser Taylor Townsend all winning through in 92 minutes or less in straight sets. In the all-United States clash, Madison Keys had to retire three games into the deciding set with Peyton Stearns advancing to the Round of 16.

The Russian contingent also had plenty of players through to the last 16, as Liudmila Samsonova, Diana Shnaider and Anna Kalinskaya all advanced, with an all-Ukrainian battle between Marta Kostyuk and former Toronto champion Elina Svitolina going the way of the younger countrywoman. Jelena Ostapenko fought past the in-form Paula Badosa in a two-hour and four-minute epic in the other clash, 3-6 7-6 6-2.