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Jonathan White

China’s Zhang Shuai and partner Samantha Stosur of Australia won their first doubles title since the 2019 Australian Open with victory at the US Open warm-up Westerm & Southern Open.
The pair took the WTA 1000 title after beating Canada’s Gaby Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani of Brazil straight sets at the Linden Family Tennis Centre in Mason, Ohio, on Saturday (US time).
“I missed being out here with you,” Stosur, 37, said to Zhang, 32, after the win. “Thanks for joining up again. You wanted the big trophy and now we’ve got it.”
It ended 7-5, 6-3 for a relatively easy win for the veterans over the No 6 seeds after the travails of Friday where Zhang and Stosur had to play both their quarter-final and semi-final.

@bambamsam30 | @zhangshuai121 #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/1DS5ZdtQ3I
— Western & Southern Open (@CincyTennis) August 22, 2021

Both went to three sets, first seeing off fourth seeds Nicole Melichar and Demi Schuurs before beating Russia’s Anna Blinkova and Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus.
At one point they were a set down and 5-1 down in the second set of their semi.
Zhang and Stosur double up to reach Cincinnati final
Zhang and Stosur won the women’s doubles at the 2019 Australian Open but have not won a doubles tournament since either together or with other partners.
The Chinese singles No 2 had reached four doubles semi-finals this season before Cincinnati but this was the first final.
For Zhang it also ended her losing streak in her last three WTA 1000 doubles finals.

3rd team title @bambamsam30 & @zhangshuai121 race to the @CincyTennis doubles title with a straight-sets win over Dabrowski/Stefani! pic.twitter.com/EPf2T0P6Yu
— wta (@WTA) August 22, 2021

Stosur and Zhang, who reached the semi-finals of the 2018 US Open, enter this year’s tournament on August 30 off the back of a big win.


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US Open (tennis)

Zhang Shuai and Samantha Stosur seal doubles crown in Cincinnati Western & Southern Open

Zhang Shuai of China and Samantha Stosur of Australia talk during the women's doubles final against Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada, and Luisa Stefani of Brazil at the Western & Southern Open. Photo: AP

US Open: Zhang Shuai and Sam Stosur into Cincinnati Masters doubles final

China’s Zhang Shuai in action during the Western and Southern Open tennis tournament at Lindner Family Tennis Center. She and Samantha Stosur have reached the final of the women’s doubles in Cincinnati. Photo: USA Today Sports

US Open: Zhang Shuai crashes out of Western & Southern warm-up in Cincinnati

Zhang Shuai of China in action against Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic during the Western and Southern Open tennis tournament at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Photo: USA Today

US Open: China’s Zhang Shuai into main draw at Cincinnati Open

China’s Zhang Shuai returns a shot against Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic at the Western and Southern Open. Photo: USA Today Sports

Aug 15, 2021; Mason, OH, USA; Shuai Zhang (CHN) returns a shot against Marie Bouzkova (CZE) during the Western and Southern Open tennis tournament at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Zhang Shuai retires from US Open warm-up Canadian Open

China’s Zhang Shuai returns a shot to Ana Konjuh of Croatia during their quarter-final match at the 2021 Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic. Photo: AFP

Aug 10, 2021; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Johanna Konta of Great Britain hits a shot against Shuai Zhang of China (not pictured) during first round play at Stade IGA. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports.

Tokyo Olympics: China’s Wang Qiang beats Veronica Cepede Royg in tennis opener

China's Qiang Wang. Photo: AFP

Sport

Tennis

China


Pair lift first title since Australian Open women’s doubles in February 2019 with straight sets win over Gaby Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani
China’s No 2 ends run of three losing doubles finals to head in to US Open on a high



Pair lift first title since Australian Open women’s doubles in February 2019 with straight sets win over Gaby Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani at Western & Southern Open.


WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Zhang Shuai and Samantha Stosur seal doubles crown in Cincinnati Western & Southern Open

Pair lift first title since Australian Open women’s doubles in February 2019 with straight sets win over Gaby Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani China’s No 2 ends run of three losing doubles finals to head in to US Open on a high

Pair lift first title since Australian Open women’s doubles in February 2019 with straight sets win over Gaby Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani

China’s No 2 ends run of three losing doubles finals to head in to US Open on a high