Aryna Sabalenka has strengthened her grip on the year-end world No. 1 spot within the WTA rankings after beating Zheng Qinwen in three units to win the Wuhan Open in China.
The Belarusian eased by way of the primary set and broke Zheng’s serve early within the second set to guide 6-3, *2-1. However Zheng, who had by no means damaged Sabalenka of their three earlier conferences, broke again for 2-2* earlier than breaking twice extra to take the second set 7-5.
Sabalenka then roared forward within the second set, going up *3-0, earlier than Zheng broke once more after a rally that touched all components of the courtroom. However Sabalenka held her nerve, finally triumphing 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 for her fourth title of 2024, and her third consecutive Wuhan Open.
Zheng had gained simply 13 video games in three matches in opposition to Sabalenka to this point, all three coming at Grand Slam tournaments — two U.S. Open quarterfinals and this 12 months’s Australian Open closing. Whereas the scoreline at this 12 months’s U.S. Open (6-1, 6-2) was essentially the most lopsided to this point, that match was nearer than the numbers would recommend, and Zheng additional confirmed off her enchancment in 2024 in Wuhan by taking Sabalenka to 3 units for the primary time.
Sabalenka will now be simply 69 factors behind world No. 1 Iga Swiatek when the WTA rankings replace on Monday. Swiatek, who missed the Wuhan Open and the China Open held in Beijing which preceded it, is in the midst of altering her coach after parting methods with Tomasz Wiktorowski, with whom she gained 4 of her 5 Grand Slam titles. She dropped 1100 rating factors by lacking the China Open, which has allowed Sabalenka to reel in a lead which has regarded unassailable for many of 2024.
Sabalenka will nevertheless be 806 factors forward of Swiatek within the WTA ‘Race,’ the rankings which account for factors accrued this 12 months. This offers her a wholesome buffer forward of the WTA Tour Finals in Riyadh, which is able to happen from November 2 to November 9.
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World No. 1 Swiatek splits with coach, withdraws from Wuhan WTA 1000
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