Overview
- The world No. 1 defeated Ann Li 7-6(5), 6-4 to progress and will face Caty McNally next.
- Her opener was relocated from the main stadium to the Butch Buchholz court after a weather-scrambled schedule.
- Sabalenka said she was “really shocked” that officials considered canceling or rescheduling her match rather than starting the marquee night session later.
- She chose to play that evening to ensure a recovery day, with the match starting at 9:48 p.m. local time and finishing past midnight after rain pauses.
- The event had already lost a full day to rain, and director James Blake had previously indicated plans to keep crowd‑drawing players like Joao Fonseca on center court.