World number one Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the second round of the China Open by beating Sofia Kenin 6-1, 6-2 on Sunday.
The Belarusian crushed Kenin with a succession of powerful services and closed out the first set with an ace after just 23 minutes. The 25-year-old broke serve twice more in the second set, while Kenin – playing with her bandaged left thigh – was unable to react.
Sabalenka sealed the encounter with another unreturned serve and scored a draw against Magdalena Frech or Katie Boulter in the next round.