In a thrilling display of resilience, China's Guo Hanyu and Russia's Alexandra Panova staged a dramatic comeback to claim the women's doubles title at the Bad Homburg Open on Saturday. The unseeded pair overcame second seeds Lyudmyla Kichenok (Ukraine) and Ellen Perez (Australia) 4-6, 7-6(4), 10-5 in a match lasting nearly two hours.
After dropping the first set, Guo and Panova saved critical match points in the 10th game of the second set before dominating the tiebreaker. The Chinese-Russian duo carried their momentum into the championship tiebreak, capitalizing on opponents' errors to secure victory in front of an enthusiastic German crowd.
The win marks Guo's fifth WTA doubles title and her first career triumph on grass courts. 'This victory shows our ability to adapt under pressure,' Guo told reporters post-match. 'Grass requires different strategies, and we're proud to have mastered them this week.'
The result highlights growing Asian-European sports collaborations, with Panova noting: 'Our different playing styles complement each other perfectly.' The pair's success comes as tennis gains popularity across Asia, with regional players increasingly making their mark in international competitions.
