China's Yuan Yue wins first-ever WTA doubles title at Ningbo Open

China's Yuan Yue and the Netherlands' Demi Schuurs snagged the women's doubles crown at the Ningbo Open by taking down the top-seeded pair of Nicole Melichar-Martinez from the United States and Ellen Perez from Australia with a convincing 6-3, 6-3 victory on Sunday. This win also marks a significant milestone for Yuan, as the 26-year-old's first-ever WTA doubles title in her professional career.

Despite it being their first time teaming up, Yuan and Schuurs displayed exceptional synchronicity on the court. During their match, they each had their roles clearly defined – Yuan focused on solid baseline defense while Schuurs showcased her proficiency at the net, forming a dynamic duo that kept their opponents under pressure throughout the game.

The duo showcased a knack for adapting their tactics based on their opponents' shots, executing clever strategies to break serve and hold serve effectively. Whenever their opponents tried to disrupt their rhythm with swift attacks, Yuan and Schuurs swiftly countered with reinforced baseline defense and nimble net play, successfully thwarting their opponents' tactics and seizing opportunities for counterattacks.

Reflecting on their partnership, Yuan said: "I think Schuurs has a strong ability to analyze the situation on the court. I just needed to do my job well from the baseline, serving, returning, and creating opportunities through my shots, but she can win points at the net with very few errors."

In the women's singles final, fifth-seeded Daria Kasatkina from Russia outplayed her compatriot Mirra Andreeva 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 to claim the title. Kasatkina's triumph marked her second victory of the season in her sixth final, all at the WTA 500 level.