Jessica Pegra broke twice while appearing in the match in the third set, but recovered to Edge Haley Baptist on Wednesday with a tight tiebreaker and advanced in the Uhan Open.
Sixth seed Pegra defeated the American Americans 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (6) in their seventh match point to reach the third round.
Pegra, who lost in China’s Open semi-finals last week, will then play ninth seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, who defeated American Ann Lee 7-6 (5), 6-2.
No. 3 Coco Gauff lost the semi-finals to ultimate champion Amanda Anisimova at the China Open, and was caught up in the next round with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Moyuka uchijima in 51 minutes.
No. 16 Liudmila Samson came together for beating 2020 Australian Open Champions Sofia Kenin 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, and qualifying Katezyina Siniaková Beat Maya Joint 6-3, 6-1.
In the third round, Samsonova will face Open champion Arena Sei.
Top ranked Sabalenka had an incredible run at Uhan. Her record is 18-0 while winning titles in 2018, 2019 and 2024. She spent her Greek holiday after winning two consecutive times at Flushing Meadows and withdrawing from another WTA 1000 level event, last week’s China Open.
“I knew after that little break… it’s not that easy to get back to my rhythm. I’m so happy they found the game and intervened in the second set. “I’m so happy to be back. I’ve won a lot of tournaments in China. I feel like home in this stadium.
Sabalenka defeated her 68th-place opponent in the opening game of the final set, winning the second match point in almost two hours.
Karolina Muchova became the newest player to succumb to the heat and humidity, retreating from the match, chasing Magdalena Fleck 7-6 (1), 4-1.
The Associated Press and PA contributed to this report.