Aryna Sabalenka clinched her third consecutive Wuhan Open title on Sunday, showcasing her dominance by defeating home favorite Zheng Qinwen. The riveting final concluded with a scoreline of 6-3, 5-7, 6-3, marking Sabalenka’s second WTA 1000 title of the season and the seventh of her illustrious career. This victory extends Sabalenka’s unbeaten streak at the Wuhan Open to a remarkable 17-0, further cementing her status as a formidable force in women’s tennis.
The match was held in Wuhan, where Zheng Qinwen, the first Chinese player ever to reach a WTA 1000 final on home turf, put up a valiant fight against Sabalenka. Despite her defeat, Zheng managed to take a set off Sabalenka for the first time in their head-to-head encounters. This achievement highlights Zheng's growth, as she reflected on the match saying, "She forced me to see some of the weaknesses in my tactics."
Sabalenka's victory not only underscores her dominance in Wuhan but also adds to her impressive record of four titles in 2024, including major wins at the Australian Open and US Open. With five of her 17 career titles secured in China, she has set an Open Era record. The Belarusian player expressed her connection to the city by stating that Wuhan "definitely feels like home."
Zheng Qinwen entered the match with high hopes of becoming just the second Chinese player to win a WTA 1000 event, following Li Na's triumph in Cincinnati in 2012. At 22 years old and already the Paris 2024 gold medalist, Zheng showed immense potential and determination. After the match, she expressed optimism for future encounters, saying, "I really look forward to training. I look forward to the next match against her." Zheng remains motivated by her progress, stating, "After this loss, I’m feeling excited because I am doing better each time. There’s more room for improvement."
Sabalenka's performance also highlights her competitive edge over Zheng, as she improves to 4-0 in their head-to-head matches. Reflecting on the match dynamics, Sabalenka admitted, "I felt like I just lost a little bit of focus and I let her come back in the match," acknowledging Zheng's challenge.
The Wuhan Open serves as a critical event for players aiming to secure their spot in the year-ending WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With only 69 ranking points separating the top two players in women's tennis, each match carries significant weight.
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