Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek move on with comfortable wins at Toronto Masters

[p]The 28-year-old reigning US Open champion from Belarus, a four-time Grand Slam winner, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/sabalenka-a-vyhksgUB/zhang-s-OY0ZExo5/?mid=hfjErHEq"]dropped only seven points on her first serve[/a] to advance in 76 minutes.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Sabalenka[/a], with a 38-6 record and three titles this year, struggled to find a rhythm in her return games early.[/p][p]"[b]I was trying to step in and then I would step back and nothing really clicked[/b]," she said. "[b]In the end I finally started moving a little bit better and finding my rhythm so I'm really happy at the end it really clicked.[/b]"[/p][p]Sabalenka said she enjoys being atop the rankings, a spot she has held for more than 100 weeks in her career.[/p][p]"[b]I love it. It just means I'm ahead and they have to come up with something crazy to play such tennis and I'm only getting better from that,[/b]" Sabalenka said.[/p][p]"[b]I enjoy being the one being chased. It's really fun. It's tough challenges but I love to go through it and it makes me stronger[/b]."[/p][embed guid="3fc4bf49-c954-4013-9d78-f7cbbe040c92" url="https://x.com/NBOtoronto/status/2085531529233478141?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Sabalenka next plays against Russian 16th seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alexandrova-ekaterina/dzbgeEFF/"]Ekaterina Alexandrova[/a], who eliminated Australian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gibson-talia/8GwNXON6/"]Talia Gibson[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/alexandrova-e-dzbgeEFF/gibson-t-8GwNXON6/?mid=63Zin1yP"]5-7, 6-1, 6-3[/a].[/p][p]Sabalenka leads their personal rivalry 5-4 thanks to a victory this year on Berlin grass, but Alexandrova won their most recent hardcourt match in a third-set tie-breaker last year at Doha.[/p][p]"[b]Great player. Super aggressive. Fast game. Always have to stay low,[/b]" Sabalenka said. "[b]It's always great battles and a lot of things to work on.[/b]"[/p][p]American third seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pegula-jessica/KdojxrAR/"]Jessica Pegula[/a] advanced to the round of 16 by defeating Uzbekistan's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rakhimova-kamilla/boU2UKtN/"]Kamilla Rakhimova[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/pegula-j-KdojxrAR/rakhimova-k-boU2UKtN/?mid=MZiKM2Sg"]6-4, 6-0[/a] in 68 minutes.[/p][p]Pegula will play for a quarter-final berth against Russian 15th seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/shnaider-diana/028BdVOj/"]Diana Shnaider[/a], who eliminated compatriot [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kalinskaya-anna/KGdcQnEf/"]Anna Kalinskaya[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/kalinskaya-a-KGdcQnEf/shnaider-d-028BdVOj/?mid=YR0KbT4s"]6-3, 6-3[/a], in 77 minutes.[/p][p]Polish seventh seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/swiatek-iga/jNyZsXZe/"]Iga Swiatek[/a] advanced with a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/golubic-v-x0QCtJlk/swiatek-i-jNyZsXZe/?mid=fPcLW2PO"]6-2, 6-1[/a] romp over Swiss [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/golubic-viktorija/x0QCtJlk/"]Viktorija Golubic[/a] in 66 minutes, landing 18 winners and losing only 14 points on her serve.[/p][p]"[b]For sure it was a good day and I'm really happy with the way I played,[/b]" Swiatek said.[/p][embed guid="b4ea9287-444f-4d47-8ba3-80bcb0400daa" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2085431751770251556?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Swiatek countered Golubic's versatile shots by forcing the match tempo.[/p][p]"[b]I played back her slice pretty well so the change of rhythm didn't bother me that much,[/b]" Swiatek said. "[b]I tried to pick the right balls to attack because I was controlling the pace. It was just about the decision making[/b]."[/p][p]She next faces 10th seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kostyuk-marta/8CZqQdSa/"]Marta Kostyuk[/a], who dispatched US 19th seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/keys-madison/QwU996PK/"]Madison Keys[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/keys-m-QwU996PK/kostyuk-m-8CZqQdSa/?mid=v5atXqlB"]6-3, 6-1[/a] in 72 minutes.[/p]