Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus wins the women's singles title at the Wuhan Open in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, October 13, 2024. /CFP
Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus edged No. 5 seed Zheng Qinwen of China 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 in the women's singles final at the WTA Wuhan Open in central China's Hubei Province, on Sunday, winning the tournament for the third straight time.
The first set was 2-2 after both their first two serves. Then Sabalenka made her move, first holding in the fifth game and then earning two break points in the sixth. Though Zheng saved the first one, she couldn't stop fend off the second. Leading 4-2, the Belarusian displayed even greater aggression, getting two set points in Game 9 and then clinching the set 6-3.
Zheng suffered a break again in the second set in Game 3, but then returned the favor to tie the set 2-2. She had the chance to score her second break in the sixth game, but missed multiple break points. Then in the eighth, Zheng again earned her opportunity to break Sabalenka and she took it this time, leading 5-4 in the set. Though Sabalenka held in the 10th, Zheng delivered a love game in the 11th and then converted another break to claim take the second set 7-5.
Zheng Qinwen of China tries to hit a shot in the women's singles final against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Wuhan Open in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, October 13, 2024. /CFP
Sabalenka enhanced her attacks from the beginning of the third set, breaking Zheng twice in the first three games and leading 3-0. Although Zheng converted a break in the fourth, she couldn't stop Sabalenka from doing the same in Game 7 and leading 5-2. Zheng was resilient enough to take one back with a love game in the eighth and saved two match points in the ninth, but Sabalenka sealed the set 6-3 to lift the trophy.
"Honestly, I felt like I just lost little bit focus and I let her come back in the match," Sabalenka told reporters. "I got a little bit frustrated there. It became a three-set match. Balls are getting heavier, it's third set, a bit emotional. I wouldn't say that she did something differently. I would say that I just played kind of like against myself. But I'm really happy I was able to put everything together in the third set and get this win."
"I thought the match today was better than last time," Zheng said. "I see there are places I need to improve. The level of play I showed today, when I'm not feeling well, I would say I can give it a five or six out of 10. At critical points in this match, I need to increase my speed. I was a little bit conservative... She forced me to see some of the weaknesses in my tactics. I really look forward to training. I look forward to the next match against her."