China Open: Elena Rybakina downs world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka as Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek set up last-four clash

Elena Rybakina beat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets to book her place in the semi-finals of the China Open.

The fifth seed took advantage of some erratic serving from Sabalenka to edge a tight first set before powering to a much-deserved victory.

Rybakina hit 12 aces as she dominated behind her serve and opened up countless break opportunities, four of which she took as she closed out a 7-5 6-2 win in Beijing.

The Kazakhstani will take on Liudmila Samsonova for a place in the final after she breezed past Jelena Ostapenko for the loss of just five games.

Ostapenko was the favourite but turned in a disappointing performance to lose 6-3 6-2 to Samsonova, who won more than 90 per cent of points behind her first serve.

Gauff, who won her first Grand Slam at last month’s US Open, has continued where she left off in Flushing Meadows as she looks to claim another title.

The American was too good for Greece’s Maria Sakkari, breaking her opponent three times en route to completing a comfortable 6-2 6-4 victory.

However, a sterner challenge awaits in the semis as she takes on the former world No. 1.

Swiatek lost her spot atop the rankings when she exited the US Open early, but she remains a formidable opponent and displayed all her battling qualities to recover from losing the first set to Caroline Garcia to win 6-7(8) 7-6(5) 6-1.

It sets up a mouth-watering clash between two giants of the game, with Gauff relishing the challenge of resuming her rivalry with the Pole.

“It’s going to be a tough match. We had a tough match in Cincinnati but I’m really excited and focused to play tomorrow.”