In the all-Chinese final at the WTA 250 ATX Open in Austin, Texas, Yuan Yue beat Wang Xiyu Wang, the 6th seed, in straight sets to clinch the title, despite a late fightback from her compatriot.
I feel very happy,. We both played amazing today. I think we both did really well. Yuan Yue
Yuan defeated Wang, 6-4 7-6(4), to lift the Austin Open trophy at the Westwood Country Club after a close battle between two players separated by just 4 ranking positions.
‘I feel very happy,’ Yuan said after her win. ‘We both played amazing today. I think we both did really well.”
Wang took an early lead in the opening set, only for Yuan to break back before striking for a second time on her way to taking 6 of the next 8 games to seal the set.
The second looked to be a straightforward affair for the World No 68 as she moved a double break up to serve for the title at 5-2, but Wang struck back twice to level at 5-5 before forcing a tiebreak.
“I just forgot I missed some match points, and just [thought] about how we both saved our serve games,” Yuan said, describing what was going through her head before her crucial hold for 6-6. “I have to do well on my serve game, that’s it.”
Yuan proved the dominant force at the start of the breaker, jumping ahead 6-1 and grabbing 5 more championship points, but, again, Wang fought back, saving 3 more match points, but Yuan at last converted her 7th chance to polish off the victory.
The two Chinese, Yuan Yue (L) and Wang Xiyu, are friends as well as rivals on the WTA Tour
ATXopen.com
The 25-year-old triumphed after 2 hours and 13 minutes, holding off a tremendous come-back by her 22-year-old countrywoman.
Wang had more winners on the day, with 20 to Yuan’s 14. However, Yuan had 12 fewer unforced errors than Wang in the final.
The two friends embraced at the net, and Yuan celebrated with her new coach Jose Hernandez. Austin was the pair’s first tournament together.
With the win Yuan will achieve a career-high ranking, cracking the Top 50 for the first time.
Yuan took home the title in her second career WTA final, having been the runner-up to Jessica Pegula in Seoul last October.
Sunday’s final was the first all-Chinese affair since Wang Qiang defeated Zheng Saisai for the 2018 Nanchang title, while it was also the first all-Chinese final to take place outside of Asia since 2006, when Zheng Jie defeated Li Na to take the title in Estoril, Portugal.
Doubles champions Olivia Gadecki & Olivia Nicholls, who defeated Katarzyna Kawa & Bibiane Schoofs in the final
ATXopen.com
Australia’s Olivia Gadecki & Olivia Nicholls of Great Britain won the ATX Open doubles title later on Sunday.
In the all-unseeded final, the two Olivias defeated Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa & Bibiane Schoofs of the Netherlands, 6-2 6-4, in 75 minutes.
This week marked the first time the pair of Olivias teamed up, and it went perfectly as they took the title without dropping a set.
It is the first WTA doubles title for 21-year old Gadecki and the second for Nicholls, aged 29, who previously won 2022 Granby with Alicia Barnett.
Currently ranked 90th in doubles, Gadecki is projected to rise to a career-high world No.77 following her Austin triumph – her first at tour level.
The Westwood Country Club in Austin, Texas
ATXopen.com
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