By Tennis Now | Friday, September 28, 2018
Aryna Sabalenka rallied from a break down beating Ashleigh Barty, 7-6 (2), 6-4, to reach the Wuhan final where she will play Anett Kontaveit.
Photo credit: Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open Facebook
Aryna Sabalenka says her success stems from keeping it simple.
The 20-year-old Sabalenka continues to create clean conquest in Wuhan.
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Down a break in the opening set, Sabalenka stormed back to beat Ashleigh Barty, 7-6 (2), 6-4, and charge into the biggest final of her career at the Wuhan Open.
The Belarusian baseliner scored her 13th Top 20 win, avenging a three-set Australian Open defeat to the 17th-ranked Aussie in January.
It is the fourth final of the season for Sabalenka, who swept Carla Suárez Navarro to claim her first Tour-level title in New Haven last month.
"I just tried to focus on my game," Sabalenka said. "And focus on every point. I think this was the key."
Sabalenka will play Anett Kontaveit in tomorrow's final.
Kontaveit held a 6-2, 2-1 lead when Chinese wild card Qiang Wang retired with a left thigh injury.
Wang's streak of 14 consecutive wins on home soil came to an end.
Trailing 0-2, Kontaveit raced through 18 of the next 24 points sparking a seven-game run.
A hobbled Wang, drained by her run to the Guangzhou last week, took a time-out for treatment while trailing 2-5.
The 26-year-old Chinese stopped her slide winning the second game of the second set, but her leg strain ultimately forced her retirement.
The 16th-seeded Barty, the lone seed standing at the start of semifinal play, was 2017 Wuhan runner-up to Caroline Garcia. Barty served for the first set today, but could not close it.
The Sabalenka serve was the key stroke in the match. Sabalenka won 17 of 19 first-serve points and saved three of four break points.
Rolling through the tie break, Sabalenka broke Barty in her opening service game of the second set, stretching her lead to 2-0.
Sabalenka, who describes her approach simply "see the ball and hit the ball", cracked 26 winners. Facing double break point in the second game, Sabalenka saved both, including a second serve ace down the T in holding for 4-2. Sabalenka stamped a love hold for 5-3 and wrapped up an 85-minute victory, her 13th win in her last 15 matches.