Wuhan Open: Aryna Sabalenka wins title for third time with victory against Qinwen Zheng - 'Feels like home!'

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Aryna Sabalenka is still undefeated at the Wuhan Open, having won the 2024 edition of the tournament. The 26-year-old came out on top against Olympic gold medal winner Qinwen Zheng, who put up a valiant fight in front of a supportive home crowd. Sabalenka has now won the tournament three times after holding her nerve under immense pressure in Wuhan.

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Aryna Sabalenka won the Wuhan Open for a third time with a 6-3 5-7 6-3 triumph over Qinwen Zheng.

The result means she still has not lost a match at the tournament, having come out on top in 2018 and 2019.

Sabalenka won the opening game relatively comfortably, but her 22-year-old opponent levelled the set at 1-1 with a defiant display that brought the Wuhan crowd to their feet.

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The world No. 2 restored her advantage, but Zheng got her serve up and running to make it 2-2.

Sabalenka responded by holding her serve before breaking her opponent to take a 4-2 lead.

Zheng fought hard to find a way back into it, but Sabalenka remained calm, producing an ace to win the opening set 6-3.

The pair traded games at the start of the second set, but the Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallist had several chances to break her opponent with the score at 3-2.

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However, Sabalenka came out on top in a series of thrilling rallies to even things up at 3-3.

Zheng broke to take a 5-3 lead only for Sabalenka to hit back immediately.

The Chinese player responded with an impressive hold, recovering from the disappointment of the previous two games to take a 6-5 lead before going on to win the set 7-5.

A double-fault helped Sabalenka break Zheng and take an early lead in the first game of the third set.

It was 3-0 shortly after, as Sabalenka moved to silence the crowd in Wuhan with her second break of the set.

Zheng would not go down without a fight, breaking back after coming out on top in a superb rally.

The home favourite reduced Sabalenka's advantage to one game, but the Belarusian star produced a phenomenal backhand to restore her double break.

Sabalenka was serving for the match at 5-2, but Zheng showed immense heart to break back again and make it 5-3.

However, Sabalenka broke again to wrap things up in the following game - sealing the win with a backhand volley - for a third title in Wuhan.

Sabalenka believes Wuhan is starting to feel like home after another triumph in the city.

"That sounds crazy [winning three titles], this place definitely feels like home," said Sabalenka. "Thank you guys for coming and bringing an amazing atmosphere tonight.

"Even though you were supporting her, I really enjoyed playing in front of you. I got a lot of support throughout the tournament, so thank you so much.

"It is always an amazing atmosphere on and off the court.

"I will definitely come back even stronger than this year and I will do my best to keep hold of this beautiful trophy in this beautiful place.

"I will do my best to come back as strong as possible."

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