WUHAN, China — Top seed Aryna Sabalenka spoiled home hope Zheng Qinwen’s perfect homecoming on Sunday, after clinching her third title at the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory in the final.
Zheng, the reigning Olympic gold medalist and a native of Wuhan, celebrated her 22nd birthday earlier this week and advanced to the final after defeating countrywoman Wang Xinyu in the first all-Chinese semifinal in tournament history.
Following in the footsteps of two-time Grand Slam winner Li Na, who retired on these courts a decade ago after her success sparked the rise of Chinese tennis, Zheng seemed poised to make more history in her first WTA 1000 final.
But Sabalenka, who has won her two previous Wuhan finals in 2018 and 2019, walked out on Sunday understanding her role as the heel, wearing giant over-ear headphones signaling her intent to block out the noise and just get to work.
“I’m not really focusing on the crowd when they’re against me anymore,” Sabalenka told press afterward. “I don’t really hear them. I’m just focusing on myself and my team…
“I think that match against Coco (Gauff in the US Open final) last year gave me a lot. I’m actually really glad I lost that match, because I think it was better for me. I learned a lot.”
