World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka continued her confident run at the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto, defeating China’s Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-4 to reach the fourth round.
The 28-year-old Belarusian needed 76 minutes to complete the victory. Sabalenka dropped only seven points behind her first serve and, despite initially struggling to find her rhythm on return, gradually took control of the match.
The victory extended her impressive run on hard courts. Sabalenka has now won 14 consecutive matches on the surface and arrived in Canada as one of the leading contenders for the title.
Her record for the 2026 season stands at 38 wins and just six defeats, with three tournament titles already secured.
Sabalenka will next face 16th-seeded Russian Diana Shnaider.
American Jessica Pegula also moved comfortably into the next round.
The fifth seed defeated Kamilla Rakhimova 7-5, 6-0. The opening set proved considerably more competitive, but once Pegula secured it she took complete control, preventing her opponent from winning a single game in the second set.
Toronto comes immediately after a demanding week in Washington for Pegula, where she reached the final before losing to Alexandra Eala.
The 21-year-old Filipina produced a historic 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 victory to become the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour-level singles title.
Despite that disappointment, Pegula has quickly returned to winning form in Canada and remains among the serious contenders in Toronto.
The Canadian tournament is also an important stage of preparations for the US Open, which begins at the end of August.
For Sabalenka, Toronto carries additional significance. After results at some of this season’s Grand Slam tournaments fell short of her own exceptionally high standards, the world No. 1 is attempting to rediscover her best tennis on hard courts.
The surface has traditionally been one of her strongest, and her continuing winning streak suggests her preparations for the year’s final Grand Slam are moving in the right direction.
Toronto, however, features many of the world’s leading players, and the road to the title remains demanding. As the tournament progresses, Sabalenka and Pegula will face increasingly difficult opposition, making the event an important indicator of the balance of power ahead of the US Open.
Sources: WTA, AFP, Reuters.
