Zhuhai
Big-hitting Aryna Sabalenka was too strong for Ashleigh Barty in the opening singles clash of the WTA Elite Trophy in China, taking the match 6-4 6-4.

Top seed Daria Kasatkina overcame a stern test from Wang Qiang in the opening match, outlasting the local favourite 6-1 2-6 7-5. The 21-year-old Russian will next face American Madison Keys in Azalea Group, with a victory guaranteeing Kasatkina a spot in the semifinals.

Sabalenka, at 20 the tournament’s youngest player, produced some typically aggressive tennis, showing the form that has seen her shoot up the world rankings from 39th to 12th place in just three months. Belarus’s Sabalenka made the most of breaking Australian Barty, 22, in the very first game of the match, seeing out a nip-and-tuck opening set.

In-form Sabalenka looked the more confident of the two in the early stages, and the third seed held her nerve to pull out her first two aces to clinch the set. Ninth seed Barty took the initiative in the second set, breaking in the fourth game, only for Sabalenka to break back in Barty’s two following service games.