Sabalenka’s win was her 45th career trip to a WTA 1000 last-16, surpassing Karolina Pliskova’s 44 for the most of any active player. It is also her fifth WTA 1000 last-16 of the season, her 40th win of the year, and her seventh appearance at this stage in Cincinnati in the last eight years.
Sabalenka was imperious throughout, losing just a single point on her second serve across the entire match (on 15 points).
She had reached this round by beating Australian Talia Gibson 6-2, 7-6 (2) in the previous round, while Wang, ranked No 36, had beaten Croatian Donna Vekic, the No 31 seed, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, and Belgian qualifier Hanne Vandewinkel, 6-4, 6-3, earlier in the tournament.
Sabalenka and Bejlek will meet for a place in the quarterfinals.
Cincinnati WTA 1000, 3rd Round (Round of 32)
A. Sabalenka (1) d. X. Wang; 6-1, 6-3
S. Bejlek d. E. Alexandrova (16): 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
M. Keys (19) d. K. Siniakova (33): 6-1, 6-3
X. Wang d. E. Svitolina (8): W.O.
C. Gauff (4) vs A. Li (28); 6-1, 7-6
M. Bouzkova (22) d. I. Jovic (15): 7-6, 7-6
M. Kostyuk (10) d. S. Stephens: 7-5, 7-5
M. Andreeva (5) d. J. Tjen (32): 6-1, 7-6
L. Noskova (6) d. O. Tauson (27): 7-6, 6-2
A. Anisimova (9) d. A. Eala (17): 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
S. Cirstea (16) vs A. Kalinskaya (19), 6-7, 6-1, 5-0, ret.
J. Pegula (3) d. E. Navarro (25): 7-5, 6-2
I. Swiatek (7) vs M. Sakkari (29): 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
D. Perry d. L. Boisson: 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
D. Shnaider (14) vs M. Chwalinska (19): 6-2, 7-6
E. Rybakina (2) vs Frech: 6-4, 7-6
Cincinnati WTA 1000, Round of 16
A. Sabalenka (1) vs S. Bejlek
M. Keys (19) vs X. Wang
C. Gauff (4) vs M. Bouzkova (22)
M. Kostyuk (10) vs M. Andreeva (5)
L. Noskova (6) vs A. Anisimova (9)
S. Cirstea (16) vs J. Pegula (3)
I. Swiatek (7) vs D. Perry
D. Shnaider (14) vs E. Rybakina (2)