Muchova ends Sabalenka's 15-match winning streak in the quarterfinals of the China Open

BEIJING (AP) — Karolina Muchova ended runner-up Aryna Sabalenka's 15-game winning streak with a 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-4 win in the quarterfinals of the China Open on Friday.

Muchova, ranked 49th, secured set points in the first set and came from behind 2-4 to win in the third after 2 hours and 46 minutes.

It was the third time in a row that Muchova, a semi-finalist at the US Open last month, won against the three-time major winner and the Czech player now leads her straight series 3-1.

Sabalenka's streak began with a title win in Cincinnati in August and continued with a run to the championship at the US Open last month. She also won the Australian Open earlier this year. She also had the best streak of her career with 15 wins in the 2020-21 seasons.

Muchova will face either Paris Olympics gold medalist Zheng Qinwen or Mirra Andreeva of Russia in the semifinals, who played later on Friday.

Shanghai Masters

Stefanos Tsitsipas and American duo Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul all cruised through their second-round matches at the Shanghai Masters with straight-set victories.

The 12th-seeded Tsitsipas, who lost in the first round at the Japan Open last week, had a tough test against Kei Nishikori but prevailed 7-6 (6), 6-4 in 105 minutes to avenge his defeat against the Japanese Montreal Masters in August.

Tsitsipas will face Frenchman Alexandre Müller in the third round. Muller defeated 18th-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-2, with the Canadian now having lost the opening game in four of his last five tour-level tournaments.

The 16th-ranked Shelton, who reached the quarterfinals in Shanghai last year, hit 11 aces to beat Denis Shapavalov of Canada 6-3, 7-5.

It took his 11th-seeded compatriot Tommy Paul barely an hour to defeat Italian Fabio Fognini 6-1, 6-3. Paul will play 19th seed Alejandro Tabilo in the third round.

Another American, Alex Michelson, defeated rising Chinese star Bu Yunchaokete 6-3, 6-4 in a first-round match that was postponed due to Bu's semifinal appearance at the China Open.

Later on Friday, fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev opens his tournament against Thiago Seyboth Wild of Brazil.

The 32 seeds received a bye in the first round, including top seed Jannik Sinner and second seed Carlos Alcaraz, who met in the China Open final on Wednesday. Sinner starts against Taro Daniel from Japan and Alcaraz meets Shang Juncheng from China.

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