In a thrilling finale at the WTA Wuhan Open in central China’s Hubei Province on Sunday, top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus triumphed over No. 5 seed Zheng Qinwen of China, securing a hard-fought 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory. This win marks Sabalenka’s third consecutive title at the Wuhan Open, solidifying her dominance at the tournament.
The match showcased high-level tennis from both players. In the first set, the competitors were evenly matched at 2-2 after holding their initial serves. Sabalenka then shifted gears, holding serve in the fifth game and breaking Zheng in the sixth to take a 4-2 lead. Demonstrating powerful groundstrokes and aggressive play, Sabalenka clinched the first set 6-3 after converting her second set point in the ninth game.
Zheng, urged on by the home crowd, responded strongly in the second set. Despite suffering an early break in the third game, she immediately broke back to level the set at 2-2. The Chinese player had opportunities to take the lead in the sixth game but couldn’t capitalize. However, persistence paid off as Zheng secured a crucial break in the eighth game to lead 5-4. Although Sabalenka fought back to hold serve in the tenth game, Zheng held her nerve to deliver a love game in the eleventh and broke Sabalenka once more to take the second set 7-5.
The decisive third set saw Sabalenka regain her composure and assert her authority. She broke Zheng’s serve early and maintained her lead with powerful serving and aggressive returns. Zheng struggled to find answers to Sabalenka’s relentless pressure, and the Belarusian eventually sealed the match 6-3, celebrating her third straight Wuhan Open title.
Sabalenka’s victory further cements her status as one of the top players on the WTA Tour. “It’s an incredible feeling to win here again in Wuhan,” Sabalenka said after the match. “The energy from the crowd and the level of competition always push me to perform my best.”
Zheng’s performance throughout the tournament was commendable, showcasing the rising talent in Chinese tennis. “I’m proud of the way I played, and I learned a lot from this match,” Zheng commented. “I will continue to work hard and look forward to future competitions.”
The Wuhan Open continues to be a significant event on the WTA calendar, highlighting the growing prominence of tennis in Asia. Fans and enthusiasts can look forward to more thrilling matches as the season progresses.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
