GUANGZHOU: China’s Wang Qiang picked up her second career WTA title with a straightforward 6-1 6-2 victory over Yulia Putintseva in the final of the Guangzhou International Women’s Open on Saturday.
It was the second title on home soil for the two-time Asian Games singles champion, who defeated compatriot Zheng Saisai to win the Jiangxi Open in Nanchang in July.
Wang hit 25 winners to just 16 unforced errors during the match and broke her Kazakhstani opponent five times to win the title without dropping a set all week. She saved all three break points she faced in the match.
The withdrawal of defending champion Zhang Shuai coupled with Wang’s title win on Saturday will see her become China’s highest-ranked player when she climbs seven places to a career-high 34th on Monday.