WUHAN, China — Iga Swiatek advanced to the round of 16 at the Wuhan Open with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Magdalena Frech on Wednesday.
The six-time major winner started slowly against her Polish compatriot, dropping an early service game and falling behind 2-0 before winning six straight games to take the first set.
She continued momentum by winning four straight games to start the second set before Frech made it 4-1.
Swiatek is seeded No. 7 in the WTA’s 1,000-level event. She reached the quarterfinals of the recent China Open in Beijing.
Swiatek next faces either Ashlyn Krueger or Lanlana Tararudee. She’s in the same quarter as top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka, who faced Ann Li later Wednesday in a match to reach the final 16.
In other second-round matches, No. 5 Elina Svitolina had a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 win over Liudmila Samsonova and No. 170-ranked Sonay Kartal upset No. 9-seed Belinda Bencic, 6-0, 7-5.
In Shanghai, Alexander Zverev beat Alexander Bublik, 7-6 (6), 4-6, 7-6 (1), to reach the Shanghai Masters quarterfinals in his first match since securing the year-end No. 1 ranking.
Zverev saved three set points in the first-set tiebreaker and beat Bublik for only the second time in five career meetings.
“My ankle was acting up, unfortunately,” Zverev said. “It was kind of understandable because I have been playing a lot of tennis, which is kind of a good sign because I have been playing well. I am starting to feel my body more and more, but I am happy to get through.”
Bublik led 20-15 in aces but also had eight double faults to Zverev’s one.
On Monday after third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz lost, Zverev became assured of finishing the year at the top of the rankings.
Zverev is currently No. 2, but he will overtake top-ranked Jannik Sinner next month after the Italian ended his season due to right knee inflammation.
Zverev won the French Open and US Open this year for his first two Grand Slam titles. AP
