BEIJING: World number one Aryna Sabalenka is set to defend her title at next week’s Wuhan Open following a brief injury layoff but local hero Zheng Qinwen is out.
Sabalenka won her fourth Grand Slam crown in New York last month but missed this week’s China Open in Beijing with what she called a small injury.
The 27-year-old from Belarus is expected to return to action for the WTA 1000 event in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where she is the reigning champion and a three-time winner.
The main draw starts on Monday with Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff — who plays the semifinals in Beijing on Saturday — also among the top seeds.
In a blow to the tournament and home hopes, local favorite and Olympic champion Zheng pulled out on Friday having recently returned from elbow surgery.
The Chinese world number nine, who considers Wuhan her hometown, retired from her last-32 match at the China Open on Monday.
Zheng, runner-up to Sabalenka last year, said in a video: “Unfortunately my body has not returned to its best condition.
“After discussing with doctors and my team, I regretfully and unfortunately withdrew from this year’s Wuhan Open.
“I’m very grateful for the support from all tennis fans, especially those from my hometown.”
Sabalenka to defend Wuhan title after layoff but Zheng out
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Sabalenka to defend Wuhan title after layoff but Zheng out
- World number one Aryna Sabalenka is set to defend her title at next week’s Wuhan Open following a brief injury layoff but local hero Zheng Qinwen is out
Two own goals save Arsenal blushes against Wolves
LONDON: Arsenal avoided a major embarrassment against Premier League bottom club Wolves on Saturday, benefiting from two own goals — one in stoppage time — to win 2-1 and move five points clear of Manchester City.
Manager Mikel Arteta admitted that his team had struggled to create clear chances and that the win should have been much more comfortable.
But he said that the manner of the victory would give the team a major boost.
“That gives you belief that regardless of how the game goes, you can always find a solution to win it,” he told TNT Sports.
“But now we’re going to have a clean week. We need to start to train certain aspects slowly, because if you don’t train them, you start to deteriorate a little bit.”
Arteta’s men were blunt in the first half, failing to muster a single shot on target as Gabriel Martinelli wasted a clutch of chances.
The Arsenal boss made three changes shortly before the hour mark, bringing on Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino for Martinelli, Eberechi Eze and Martin Zubimendi.
The Gunners mounted wave after wave of attacks, and Declan Rice’s shot midway through the second half — their first on target — was well saved by Sam Johnstone.
But in the 70th minute the sheer weight of pressure told to the enormous relief of an impatient and nervy Emirates crowd.
Johnstone flicked Bukayo Saka’s corner onto a post as he scrambled to reach the ball but it rebounded back onto his arm and into the net for an own goal.
Gabriel Jesus came on for Viktor Gyokores for his first home match after 11 months out injured.
Astonishingly, Wolves pulled level in the 90th minute, when Mateus Mane’s flat cross was headed in by Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare.
But just as the Arsenal fans contemplated a damaging draw, the Gunners benefited from a second own goal.
Saka delivered a perfect cross which Jesus attacked but the ball was diverted into his own net by Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera.
Winless Wolves, with a ninth league defeat in a row, have mustered just two points from their 16 games so far and are on course for the worst season in Premier League history.
Pep Guardiola’s City travel to in-form Crystal Palace on Sunday seeking to close the gap to Arsenal, who have not won the Premier League since 2004.
