Tennis: 18-ace Aryna Sabalenka overcomes determined Alison Riske to retain Wuhan title
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Aryna Sabalenka (left) raced past Alison Riske in the first five games of the final set before sealing victory with her 18th ace of the match.
PHOTO: AFP
(REUTERS, AP) - Belarusian ninth seed Aryna Sabalenka held off a spirited challenge from American Alison Riske to win 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 and successfully defend her WTA Wuhan Open tennis title on Saturday (Sept 28).
World No. 14 Sabalenka raced past her unseeded opponent in the first five games of the final set before sealing victory with her 18th ace of the match, to join Petra Kvitova as the only other two-time winner at Wuhan.
"I can't believe that I defend this title," the 21-year-old said. "I can't believe it's happened."
"I can't believe that I defend this title," the 21-year-old said. "I can't believe it's happened."
The ninth-seeded Belarusian started much more aggressively, winning five of the first six games in the first set. Riske rallied in the second, withstanding nine aces to level the match, but Sabalenka regained control in the decider.
"Third set I came out like 'This is a final, try to do everything you can. Just one match to go, just do your best,' I was just focusing on my game, focusing on each point," she said.
Sabalenka has now won three of her four titles in China, including the Shenzhen Open earlier this year in which she came from behind to defeat Riske in a three-set final.
Riske, 29, faced nine aces from Sabalenka in the second set but broke serve in the sixth game to force a decider.
"Third set I came out like 'This is a final, try to do everything you can. Just one match to go, just do your best,' I was just focusing on my game, focusing on each point," she said.
Sabalenka has now won three of her four titles in China, including the Shenzhen Open earlier this year in which she came from behind to defeat Riske in a three-set final.
Riske, 29, faced nine aces from Sabalenka in the second set but broke serve in the sixth game to force a decider.
However, Sabalenka's powerful groundstrokes ensured she never faced a break point in the final set as she extended her winning streak in Wuhan to 12 matches.
She heads to Beijing next, where she faces either Russian Daria Kasatkina or Chinese home favourite Peng Shuai in her opening match.
Despite losing, Riske is set to enter the top 30 rankings for the first time in her career at age 29.
