Last year Aryna Sabalenka defeated then-world-No.17 Ashleigh Barty in the semifinals en route to the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open title and today the defending champion dispatched the Australian at the same stage of the tournament, only that now her opponent is ranked No.1.
The 21-year-old Sabalenka needed one hour and 43 minutes to record her first ever victory over a top-ranked player, extending her win-loss record in the Chinese city of Wuhan to 11-0. Barty, on the other hand, although successful in Wuhan, never got all the way to the title, having reached the final once and semis twice.