Sabalenka storms into China Open third round with 63-minute win

Aryna Sabalenka needed 63 minutes to start her China Open. The Belarusian beat Mexico's Renata Zarazua 6-1 6-3 in Beijing on 2 October to reach the third round, according to BBC Sport.

It was fast and clean. Sabalenka hit 11 aces and never faced a break point, a chance for the returner to take the server's game. Zarazua, ranked No. 94, could not find a way into the rallies for long.

Sabalenka said afterwards she is "trying so hard to be easier on herself." The line says a lot. She arrived in China after losing her world No. 1 ranking and her US Open crown to Elena Rybakina in September.

This is still a player with big titles behind her this year. Sabalenka won Indian Wells and the Miami Open back-to-back in March. Beijing is her next chance to reset the race at the top.

Zarazua had earned her place in this Round of 64. She beat Anna Bondar 7-6(4), 6-3 in the previous round after saving three set points at 5-3 down in the first set. Her career-high ranking is No. 51.

Next up for Sabalenka is Nikola Bartunkova in the third round. The Czech qualifier stands between Sabalenka and the second week of a tournament scheduled to run from 30 September to 11 October.

Elsewhere in Beijing, Katie Boulter went out. The Briton lost 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 to Karolina Muchova after a first set decided by a tiebreak, the first-to-seven shootout used when a set reaches 6-6.

Mirra Andreeva took the long way through. She dropped the first set to Yuan Yue, then won 3-6 6-0 6-0. Two bagels in a row. Brutal.

In the men's draw, Daniil Medvedev moved on with a 6-4 6-2 win over Pablo Carreno Busta. Britain's Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool added a doubles win, beating Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov 6-3 6-4.

What makes this stand out is the control. Sabalenka served big, held easily and kept the points short. For fans, this means the nerve held. The rest of the fortnight will test it again.