WUHAN, China, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Duan Yingying became the first Chinese winner of the Wuhan Open, as she and partner Veronika Kudermetova downed Aryna Sabalenka and Elise Mertens 7-6(3), 6-2 in the doubles final here this evening.
Having won the Wuhan Open singles title earlier in the day, Sabalenka started the doubles final as she meant to go on, with the big-serving Belarusian scoring an ace with the opening shot of the match.
However, Duan/Kudermetova matched Sabalenka/Mertens stroke for stroke, with both pairs serving up three aces over the course of a first set that went to a tiebreak with neither duo having lost any service games.
Roared on by a capacity crowd, Duan/Kudermetova turned the screw in the tiebreak, going 4-0 up before ultimately seeing out the set with a 7-3 victory.
The second set began in an equally tight fashion as both pairs held their service games to 3-2, before Duan/Kudermetova stretched their legs to take the following three games and finish with a 6-2 set win.