Wuhan: Swiatek recovers from slow start, Kartal routs Bencic – Sakkari stops Kostyuk
More seeds fall at the year's final WTA 1000 event: world No. 170 Sonay Kartal beats Belinda Bencic, while Iga Swiatek and Elina Svitolina reach the last 16.
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Iga Swiatek has reached the round of 16 at the WTA 1000 event in Wuhan. The seventh-seeded Pole beat compatriot Magdalena Frech 6-2, 6-1 on Wednesday after losing her opening service game and trailing 2-0, according to AP – she then won six games in a row. Fifth seed Elina Svitolina also advanced, beating Liudmila Samsonova 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.
The biggest upset came from Britain's Sonay Kartal: the world No. 170 beat ninth-seeded Belinda Bencic of Switzerland 6-0, 7-5. Iva Jovic (6-4, 6-1 against Dayana Yastremska) and Diana Shnaider (6-2, 6-2 against Yulia Putintseva) also won.
On Tuesday, Maria Sakkari knocked out eighth seed Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, coming from a set down to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. Top seed Aryna Sabalenka, who is in Swiatek's quarter, was due to face American Ann Li later on Wednesday.