Sabalenka wins third straight Wuhan Open title

World number two Aryna Sabalenka claimed her third consecutive Wuhan Open title, defeating Chinese fifth seed Zheng Qinwen in a thrilling final with a score of 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. This victory marks Sabalenka as the first player to win the Wuhan Open three times, maintaining her perfect 17-0 record at the tournament.

The match, lasting 2 hours and 40 minutes, saw Sabalenka dominate the first set with seven aces and 32 winners. However, Zheng, the Paris Olympics gold medalist, fought back in the second set, breaking Sabalenka's serve for the first time in their four meetings to force a deciding set.

In the final set, Sabalenka quickly established a 3-0 lead and held on to secure her fourth title of the year and 17th WTA singles title overall. This victory strengthens her bid to reclaim the world No. 1 ranking from Iga Swiatek before the season's end.

The 26-year-old Belarusian expressed her joy at the achievement, saying, "That sounds crazy, and this place definitely feels like home." She also congratulated Zheng on her performance and thanked the crowd for their support throughout the tournament.

For Zheng, despite the loss, the tournament was a significant milestone. The 22-year-old became the first Chinese finalist in Wuhan Open history and made a crucial jump in the Race to the WTA Finals, moving from No. 9 to No. 7. This increases her chances of becoming the first Chinese player since Li Na in 2013 to qualify for the season-ending tournament.

The match was played before a capacity crowd of 13,000 at the Optics Valley International Tennis Centre, with the home fans rallying behind Zheng. The Chinese player showed remarkable resilience, taking a set off Sabalenka for the first time in their four encounters.

Sabalenka's victory in Wuhan adds to her impressive 2024 season, which already includes two Grand Slam titles and a WTA 1000 success in Cincinnati.