World No. 2 Sabalenka makes winning return

The No 2-ranked Sabalenka, who had a bye in the first round here, served 10 aces, but also made 30 unforced errors

In her first match since reaching the US Open semi-finals and subsequently testing positive for COVID-19, Aryna Sabalenka beat Ajla Tomljanovic 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals of the Kremlin Cup.

The No 2-ranked Sabalenka, who had a bye in the first round here, served 10 aces, but also made 30 unforced errors. “She’s a tough opponent for the first match after a long time out,” Sabalenka said.

“I calmed down a bit and started playing well.” Sabalenka had not played since her three-set loss to Leylah Fernandez in the US Open. The Belarusian had been scheduled to play in Indian Wells, California, but said she had tested positive for the Coronavirus the day before play started.

She’ll next play Ekaterina Alexandrova, who beat Anhelina Kalinina 6-4, 6-1. Garbine Muguruza beat Tereza Martincova 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to set up a quarter-final match against either Anett Kontaveit or Andrea Petkovic. Fourth-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova beat Bernarda Pera 6-2, 7-5 in the second round.

In the men’s competition, third-seeded Karen Khachanov reached the quarter-finals with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 win over James Duckworth. Another Australian awaits Khachanov in the next round after John Millman progressed with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 win over qualifier Illya Marchenko.

Marin Cilic, a two-time champion at the Kremlin Cup, made it to the quarter-finals by beating Taylor Paul 7-5, 6-3. 

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