Qinwen Zheng outlasted Sofia Kenin 7-6 (5), 6-3 to win the Pan Pacific Open on Sunday in Tokyo.
What happened?
Qinwen Zheng fired 16 aces to dispatch Kenin in one hour, 52 minutes.
Kenin was able to erase all five break points she faced in the first set to force a tiebreak.
Why it matters for Qinwen Zheng
This win marks Zheng's third WTA Tour singles title of the year and fifth of her career.
She also won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
What comes next?
Zheng's victory will likely impact her ranking, but the exact change is not yet known.
The Guangzhou Open also took place, with Olga Danilovic winning her second career WTA title.
Danilovic breezed to a 6-3, 6-1 win over qualifier Caroline Dolehide in China.
The win marked Danilovic's first hard-court final in 75 minutes.
She became the second Serbian player to win in Guangzhou, with Jelena Jankovic securing the title in 2015.
Danilovic fired 24 winners compared to 12 by Dolehide, fueled by her win over top-seeded Katerina Siniakova.
On Sunday, Qinwen Zheng's focus was solely on the Pan Pacific Open.
Her win over Kenin showcased her skill and determination on the court.
As the top seed, Zheng was expected to perform well, and she delivered.
The crowd in Tokyo witnessed an exciting match, with Zheng emerging victorious.
The final score was 7-6 (5), 6-3, with Zheng dominating the second set.
This win will be remembered as a highlight of Zheng's career, and she will look to build on this momentum in future tournaments.
For now, Zheng can celebrate her well-deserved victory in the Pan Pacific Open.