Prime seed Aryna Sabalenka shook off a second-set blip to win the Wuhan Open title for the third straight time after beating dwelling favourite Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 within the remaining Sunday.
Sabalenka, 26, who knocked out 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff within the semifinals Saturday, had seven aces and 32 winners and didn’t face a single break level within the opening set.
The Belarusian now has probably the most aces in WTA 1000 this season, surpassing world No. 5 Elena Rybakina.
Having received all three of their previous conferences in straight units, together with the Australian Open remaining, world No. 2 Sabalenka misplaced some management within the second set in opposition to Zheng, the Paris Olympics gold medalist.
Sabalenka raced out to a 3-0 double-break lead within the deciding set and finally transformed her third championship level to seal her fourth title of the yr and take her total WTA singles title haul to 17.
“That sounds loopy,” Sabalenka stated of changing into the primary to win this occasion three straight instances. “This place positively appears like dwelling.”
Sabalenka additionally received in 2018 and 2019. The occasion wasn’t held from 2020 to 2023 because of COVID.
Zheng was making an attempt to develop into simply the second Chinese language participant to say a WTA 1000 title (Li Na, Cincinnati, 2012).
Sabalenka is concentrating on to reclaim the highest rating within the remaining weeks of the season, having already certified for the season-ending WTA Finals together with world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.
Reuters contributed to this report.
