Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic, right, is congratulated by Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus after winning in the women's singles quarterfinals match of the China Open tennis tournament, at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, October 4, 2024
ARYNA SABALENKA’S 15-match winning streak ended with a quarter-final loss to Karolina Muchova at the China Open in Beijing.
The US Open champion was bidding for a third straight tournament victory and led 4-2 in the deciding set but Czech Muchova fought back to win 7-6 (5) 2-6 6-4.
It was a third successive victory over Sabalenka for Muchova, who has been in impressive form since returning in June after more than 10 months out following wrist surgery.
In the last four, Muchova will face home favourite Zheng Qinwen, who won a rollercoaster clash against Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva 5-7 6-0 6-4.
Meanwhile, world number one Iga Swiatek has announced she has split from her coach of three years Tomasz Wiktorowski.
Writing on Instagram, the Pole said: “After three years of the greatest achievements in my career, together with my coach Tomasz Wiktorowski we decided to part ways.”
Swiatek won four grand slam titles under the tutelage of Wiktorowski and established herself as the dominant force in women’s tennis but she has not lifted a trophy since the French Open in June.
She revealed she is in talks with a “non-Polish” coach and will miss next week’s Wuhan Open while she searches for a new mentor.
Swiatek is the third high-profile women’s player to change coach in a matter of weeks after Naomi Osaka, who split from Wim Fissette before starting work with Patrick Mouratoglou, and Coco Gauff, whose partnership with Brad Gilbert came to an end.
