Iga Swiatek marked a new career high point on Thursday, advancing to the Wuhan Open quarterfinals for the second year running after a 6-1, 6-4 win over American lucky loser Ashlyn Krueger.
The six-time major winner picked up her 150th victory at WTA 1000 level, keeping her on course for a 13th title in the category.
Only two other players have reached 150 wins in their first 50 main draw appearances at Tier I/WTA 1000 events since the format was introduced in 1990: Martina Hingis, with 162, and Serena Williams, with 153.
“I just wanted to focus on adjusting and being brave and, at the end, I’m happy that I was,” said the seventh-seeded Swiatek, who needs a title this week to strengthen her chances of qualifying for next month’s WTA Finals in Indian Wells.
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“For sure I feel like I am playing better than at the beginning of the season, so I’m ready to push and I’m happy to be in the quarters for sure.”
The 25-year-old Pole, who will meet either Ann Li or Janice Tjen in the quarterfinals, is one of only two top 10 seeds left in a draw that has seen plenty of big names fall.
One day after top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula made shock exits, sixth seed Karolina Muchova and 10th seed Iva Jovic also left Wuhan. Maja Chwalinska, this year’s French Open finalist, beat American world No. 11 Jovic 6-4, 6-1 and will face Greece’s Maria Sakkari in the last eight.
Diana Shnaider beat Muchova 7-5, 6-3, her fourth career win over a top-10 opponent. The 22-year-old Russian now plays Jelena Ostapenko for a place in the semi-finals.
Sonay Kartal, a British player ranked 170th in the world, knocked out another seed after her second round win over ninth seed Belinda Bencic. She followed that with a crushing 6-2, 6-0 win over 15th seed Jasmine Paolini, last year’s Wuhan semifinalist.
World No. 6 Elina Svitolina avoided the seed exodus, cruising into the quarterfinals with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Chinese wild card Guo Hanyu, whose run had been full of promise.
She will play Kartal next.
(With inputs from AFP)
Published on Oct 15, 2026
