Sabalenka reaches Canadian Open R16 at 25-1 on hard courts in 2025
Synopsis
Sabalenka's 25-1 hard-court record in 2025 is the fastest such start since Serena Williams in 2016 — and she is not done yet. The Canadian Open draw is shaping up as a potential coronation, with Pegula also advancing and the doubles field losing several marquee names including Eala-Williams and the Fernandez sisters on the same day.
Key Takeaways
Aryna Sabalenka defeated Shuai Zhang 6-3, 6-4 to reach the Canadian Open round of 16 on 7 August .
Sabalenka's hard-court record stands at 25-1 this season — the fastest to that mark since Serena Williams in 2016 .
Jessica Pegula beat Kamilla Rakhimova 6-4, 6-0 in her third match in four days; next faces Diana Shnaider .
Amanda Anisimova (No.
8 seed) came from a set down to beat Nikola Bartunkova 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 in 1 hr 59 min .
Alexandra Eala and Venus Williams lost their doubles opener to Samsonova and Kato .
Wild-card pair Leylah Annie and Bianca Jolie Fernandez were beaten 6-1, 6-2 by Mertens and Shnaider in doubles.
Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, cruised into the Canadian Open round of 16 on 7 August with a commanding 6-3, 6-4 straight-sets victory over Shuai Zhang, extending her dominance on hard courts to a remarkable 25-1 record this season.
Sabalenka's Historic Hard-Court Run
The win made Sabalenka the fastest player to reach 25 hard-court victories in a single season since Serena Williams accomplished the feat in 2016 — a measure of just how dominant she has been on the surface. She is now 5-1 in career head-to-head meetings against Zhang, with all five victories coming in straight sets.
Zhang did apply pressure throughout the contest, and Sabalenka faced a break point in the final game before recovering to take the last three points and seal the match. The world No. 1 was never in serious danger of an upset, but the competitive nature of the match underscored Zhang's tenacity.
Sabalenka will next face No. 16 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, against whom she holds a narrow 5-4 head-to-head advantage.
Pegula Grinds Through Demanding Schedule
Jessica Pegula, a two-time Canadian Open champion, registered a commanding 6-4, 6-0 win over Kamilla Rakhimova in a match delayed by rainfall in Toronto. The victory came in her third match in four days, with her only break being a travel day.
The 32-year-old American acknowledged the minimal preparation time but chose to focus on the positives. Pegula will next face Diana Shnaider — exactly one week after defeating the world No. 17 in the Washington semi-finals.
Anisimova Fights Back in Gritty Three-Setter
No. 8 seed Amanda Anisimova, who had received a second-round walkover from Lanlana Tararudee, needed time to find her rhythm before engineering a comeback 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 win over Nikola Bartunkova in 1 hour and 59 minutes.
Doubles: Eala-Williams and Fernandez Sisters Exit Early
In the doubles draw, fan favourite Alexandra Eala and partner Venus Williams were eliminated in the first round by Liudmila Samsonova and Miyu Kato. Sisters Leylah Annie and Bianca Jolie Fernandez, who received a wild card for the tournament, also fell at the first hurdle, losing to Elise Mertens and Diana Shnaider by a decisive 6-1, 6-2 scoreline.
Gabriela Dabrowski and new partner Ekaterina Alexandrova also suffered a first-round exit, going down to Coco Gauff and Caty McNally. With the draw thinning, the singles quarter-final picture at the Canadian Open is beginning to take shape.
Point of View
Battle-hardened by a compressed schedule, looks the likeliest challenger — but her fatigue factor is real. The doubles exits of Eala-Williams and the Fernandez sisters on the same day add a bittersweet subplot to an otherwise dominant day for the top of the women's game.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Aryna Sabalenka's result at the Canadian Open on 7 August?
Sabalenka defeated Shuai Zhang 6-3, 6-4 in straight sets to advance to the round of 16 at the Canadian Open. The win took her hard-court record for the season to 25-1.
Why is Sabalenka's 25-1 hard-court record significant?
It makes her the fastest player to reach 25 hard-court wins in a single season since Serena Williams achieved the feat in 2016. The record highlights her dominance heading into the US Open series.
Who does Sabalenka face next at the Canadian Open?
Sabalenka's next opponent is No. 16 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, against whom she holds a 5-4 head-to-head advantage on the WTA Tour.
How did Jessica Pegula perform and who does she play next?
Pegula beat Kamilla Rakhimova 6-4, 6-0 in a rain-delayed match — her third contest in four days. She next faces Diana Shnaider, whom she defeated in the Washington semi-finals just a week earlier.
What happened to Alexandra Eala and Venus Williams in the doubles?
Eala and Williams were eliminated in the first round of the doubles draw by Liudmila Samsonova and Miyu Kato. The Fernandez sisters, Leylah Annie and Bianca Jolie, also lost their doubles opener 6-1, 6-2 to Elise Mertens and Diana Shnaider.
