Iga Swiatek survives scare to reach Beijing last 16

Iga Swiatek remains in contention at the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing after escaping a serious challenge from Donna Vekic. The No. 9-ranked Pole will now play Iva Jovic for a place in the quarter-finals, keeping alive her campaign after several leading players were eliminated.

Vekic, ranked 40th, claimed the opening set 6-4 and moved within three games of victory at 5-2 in the second. Swiatek responded by breaking twice, first to reduce the deficit and then again when Vekic served for the set at 5-4. The Pole forced the score level at 5-5 before taking the tie-break without dropping a point.

Swiatek carried that momentum into the deciding set. Vekic stayed ahead until 2-1, but Swiatek then won five consecutive games to close out the match. Her improved aggression and greater use of shots down the lines helped change the contest after a difficult start.

Jovic, an 18-year-old American ranked 13th, also had to recover in her previous match. She defeated Kamila Rakhimova 6-1, 7-5 after saving two set points while trailing 5-2 in the second set. Jovic sits just behind Swiatek in the virtual rankings, setting up a meeting between two closely placed players in the next round.