Aryna Sabalenka has extended her Wuhan Open winning run to 17-0 after beating Zheng Qinwen in the final.
Sabalenka has three consecutive Wuhan Open titles to her name, having also won the event in 2018 and 2019.
It took a five-year break before returning to the WTA calendar this year, with the Belarusian wasting no time in continuing where she left off.
World number two Sabalenka overcame world number seven Zheng 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 in two hours and 40 minutes in the Wuhan Open final.
The victory came amid overwhelming support for home favourite Zheng, who also lost to the Belarusian at this year’s Australian Open and US Open.
Aryna Sabalenka ‘frustrated’ in Wuhan Open win over Zheng Qinwen
Sabalenka followed her US Open title by exiting the China Open in the quarter-finals, but she has now bounced back in the best possible way.
As quoted by the WTA website, the Belarusian has analysed her latest victory over Zheng, saying: “First of all I would say the conditions are probably a little bit better for her here. It’s much slower and the ball’s getting heavier. She has more things to do on the court when it’s slower.
“Honestly, I felt like I just lost a little bit of focus and I let her come back in the match. I got a little bit frustrated there. It became a three-set match. Balls are getting heavier, it’s third set, a bit emotional.”
Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka in thrilling year-end number one race
Sabalenka will now be full of confidence in her race for the year-end number one ranking with Iga Swiatek.
Swiatek and Sabalenka have been involved in an exciting battle, with the Belarusian closing in on the Pole thanks to her recent success.
The current world number one missed the Wuhan Open, and will undoubtedly be eager to get back onto the court as soon as possible.
Zheng meanwhile can hold her head high despite defeat in her home tournament, with the Chinese ace simply not able to get past the Belarusian.
Sabalenka now boasts a 4-0 head-to-head record over Zheng, with their one-sided rivalry dating back to the 2023 US Open quarter-finals.