WUHAN. Amazing Sabalenka claims her 4th career title

Aryna Sabalenka hustles Alison Riske 6-3 3-6 6-1 in the final in Wuhan on Saturday.

Score, report, and key facts

1^st set.

Sabalenka won the set after she broke the American in the 4^th (3-1) and in the 6^th (5-1) game. Alison tried to stage a comeback breaking in the 7^th (5-2) game. Nonetheless, Sabalenka kept the focus before winning the set 6-3.

Aryna failed to serve out the set when leading 5-1 to be broken at 15.

A crucial moment of the match was when Aryna won 4 consecutive games in the 1^st set to change the scoreline from 1-1 to 5-1.

2^nd set.

There was not much difference between them in this set with the exception of 1 break that Riske conquered in the 6^th game (4-2) before winning the set (6-3).

3^rd set.

Sabalenka took off at the beginning of the set after breaking Riske in the 2^nd game (2-0) before consolidating her break and lead 5-0. Aryna reinforced her lead after breaking Riske in the 4^th (4-0) game before conquering the set (6-1).

A crucial moment of the match was when the Belarussian won 5 consecutive games in the 3^rd set to change the scoreline from 0-0 to 5-0.

Statistics

After this encounter, the head to head between Sabalenka and Riske is 3-0 for Aryna.

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Sabalenka’s Interview

After the final, Aryna commented

“I can’t believe that I defend this title. I couldn’t even imagine that I will be able to do this. Right now I’m just happy. I don’t know. I can’t believe it’s happened.

This means a lot. This year been really tough for everyone. I was really afraid that I will be not able to defend this title. I was already saving my points on the beginning of this year. This was my problem.

That’s why I couldn’t work well, couldn’t play well, couldn’t fight actually.

Finally to defend this title, I couldn’t even imagine it’s going to happen. Right now, it’s so many thoughts going through my mind. I’m really thankful to my team because they keep staying with me.”