First seed Sabalenka powered through Talia Gibson and the heat for a 6-2, 7-6(2) win in one hour and 52 minutes.
Sabalanka was forced to work hard as she let slip no fewer than five match points on her way to a second-set tiebreak. The world number one avoided going the distance largely through her ball-striking. Despite the wind, she carved out 30 winners, including 13 aces.
“Right now, I’m just super tired, it was super hot,” the Belarusian said in her on-court interview.
“I hope you guys stay hydrated. It’s really crazy weather. That was a tricky end of the match, and I feel she pulled out a really strong level at the very end. My energy really dropped in that last game, which was very awkward.
“I’m happy that even though she brought me back, I stayed calm and was able to pull out really great tennis in the tiebreak.”
Meanwhile, fourth seed Coco Gauff recovered from a set down to defeat Liudmila Samsonova 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.
After Samsonova won the first set, Gauff earned a critical break in the tenth game of the second set to force a decider. The 2023 champion dominated the third set, winning the final five games to complete the comeback in a touch over two gruelling hours.
Elsewhere, eighth seed Elina Svitolina needed three sets to get past Tereza Valentova 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-0 to advance.
