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Aryna Sabalenka became the first player to win the Wuhan Open three times with a hard-fought win over Zheng Qinwen in Sunday’s final.<\/b><\/p>\n
The 26-year-old Belarusian was taken to three sets by China’s Zheng in a thrilling rematch of this year’s Australian Open final, in which she also claimed victory.<\/p>\n
Sabalenka clinched her fourth women’s singles title of the year 6-3 5-7 6-3 and remains undefeated in Wuhan.<\/p>\n
“That sounds crazy,” she said. “This place definitely feels like home.<\/p>\n
“I am pretty sure we are going to play many more finals against one another.”<\/p>\n
Top seed Sabalenka took the opening set in just 38 minutes, but Zheng mounted her comeback in a gripping second to force a decider.<\/p>\n
There, Zheng found herself 3-0 down, and while she pulled two games back, lost her serve again as Sabalenka broke for a 5-2 lead.<\/p>\n
The world number two failed to serve out the match as Zheng broke back to love, but finally wrapped up her 17th career title on her third championship point.<\/p>\n
Reigning Olympic gold medallist Zheng, who became the first Chinese player to reach a WTA 1000 final, has now lost all four of her meetings against the three-time Grand Slam champion.<\/p>\n
“Next time I will be better,” she said.<\/p>\n
Sabalenka is now unbeaten in 17 consecutive matches in Wuhan, breaking Petra Kvitova’s record for the most at the tournament.<\/p>\n
The win adds to a successful year in which she won both the Australian Open and US Open and appeared in seven singles finals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n