Champs Face Tough Tests in Beijing
Beijing presents big hurdles for major champions.Second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki opens against the dangerous Belinda Bencic.More: Sabalenka Surges Into Wuhan FinalThe 21-year-old Swiss is a on three-match losing streak, but Bencic has won four of six career meetings with Wozniacki.The slumping Australian Open champion is 3-6 in her last nine matches since she beat Aryna Sabalenka to win her 29th career title in Eastbourne in June.
#ChinaOpen must-see first round matches:
— China Open (@ChinaOpen) September 28, 2018
(9) Stephens v Pavlyuchenkova
(5) Kvitova v Gavrilova
(3) Kerber v Mladenovic
(10) Goerges v Konta
(8) Osaka v Keys
(7) Ka. Pliskova v Stosur
(14) Muguruza v Makarova
(2) Wozniacki v Bencic
Reigning US Open champion Naomi Osaka, who has won 10 of her last 11 matches, takes on Madison Keys in a rematch of the US Open semifinals. Osaka saved 13 break points beating Keys, 6-2, 6-4, in Flushing Meadows, but the explosive American has won three of their four meetings overall.Two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova is 2-2 lifetime vs. opening-round opponent Daria Gavrilova.Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber opens against Kristina Mladenovic, who won her last meeting with the German at the 2017 Stuttgart on red clay.No. 14-seeded Garbine Muguruza meets Ekaterina Makarova in the first round in a rematch of the 2014 Beijing second round, which the left-handed Russian won, 6-7 (8), 6-4, 6-4. The winner of the Muguruza-Makarova match will play Wuhan finalist Sabalenka in round two.Former US Open champion Sloane Stephens takes on Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in a rematch of the 2015 Washington, DC final, which Stephens swept in straight sets.Photo credit: Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open Facebook]]>#ChinaOpen women’s singles, projected QFs:
— China Open (@ChinaOpen) September 28, 2018
(1) Halep v (5) Kvitova
(3) Kerber v (8) Osaka
(7) Ka. Pliskova v (4) Garcia
(6) Svitolina v (2) Wozniacki
