Prime seed Aryna Sabalenka shook off a second-set blip to win the Wuhan Open title for the third straight time after beating residence favourite Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 within the last 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 last, world No. 2 Sabalenka misplaced some management within the second set towards 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 turning into the primary to win this occasion three straight occasions. “This place undoubtedly seems like residence.”
Sabalenka additionally received in 2018 and 2019. The occasion wasn’t held from 2020 to 2023 resulting from COVID.
Zheng was attempting to develop into simply the second Chinese language participant to assert a WTA 1000 title (Li Na, Cincinnati, 2012).
Sabalenka is concentrating on to reclaim the highest rating within the last 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.