Aryna Sabalenka on floor unseeded Ann Li in a massive Wuhan Open shocker

Aryna Sabalenkova’s torrid run of form continued on Wednesday as the Belarusian top seed suffered a stunning 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) defeat to unseeded American Ann Li in the round of 32 at the Wuhan Open.

The four-time Grand Slam champion looked set to advance after winning the opening set but struggled to stifle Li’s fightback. The American, ranked 31st in the world, fought back from 4-2 down in the second set to force a decider before producing a composed performance under pressure to secure the biggest win of her career.

Sabalenkova’s hopes appeared almost dashed when she trailed 4-1 in the final set and took a medical timeout. However, the Belarusian mounted a spirited comeback, saving five match points and holding serve to stay alive at 5-3. Li refused to buckle and eventually converted her 10th match point after two hours and 27 minutes to seal a memorable upset.

Sabalenka’s error-prone display proved costly, with Belarus committing 44 unforced errors compared to Li’s 28.

BIGGEST WIN OF HER CAREER Ann Li beats No. 1 in Wuhan! #dongfengvoyahwuhanopen wta (@WTA) October 14, 2026

SABALENKA FIGHTS AFTER THE OPENING OF WUHAN

The defeat extended a frustrating spell for Sabalenka, who has not won a title since completing the Sunshine Double with triumphs in Indian Wells and Miami earlier this year. The 28-year-old reached the US Open final last month but lost to Elena Rybakinaso he does not have a Grand Slam title in 2026.

She also crashed out in the third round at the China Open earlier this month and lost her world No. 1 ranking to Rybakina after the US Open.

The exit from Wuhan was particularly disappointing given Sabalenkova’s impressive record at the tournament. She won the title in 2018, 2019 and 2024, so her early exit is a significant setback in her bid to regain momentum before the end of the season.

In the round of 16, Li will face Indonesia’s Janice Tjenova, who defeated Ukraine’s Daria Snigurova 7:5, 6:3. The American will go into the clash with renewed confidence after ending Sabalenka’s hopes of a fourth title in Wuhan.

Li’s win underlined the unpredictability of the Wuhan Open, with second seed Jessica Pegula also suffering an early exit on Wednesday. The American lost 2-6, 7-6(7), 3-6 to Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion, who recovered from a set down to advance.

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