Iga Swiatek hails ‘big’ China Open triumph as women’s tennis returns after Covid, WTA boycott
- First edition since 2019 after China lifted pandemic restrictions and governing body ended its embargo, imposed over the Peng Shuai allegations
- ‘I’m really happy that I just focused on hard work and it paid off … after the US Open I just got back to basics,’ Swiatek says
Iga Swiatek hailed a “really big” victory after she delivered a dominant performance to win the China Open on Sunday, beating surprise package Liudmila Samsonova in straight sets to crown a resurgent run of form.
The world No 2 triumphed 6-2, 6-2 in Beijing to take the first China Open women’s title since the pandemic, after Beijing lifted its isolationist zero-Covid policy.
The victory capped a strong showing for four-time grand slam champion Swiatek, who was deposed as the world’s top-ranked player by Aryna Sabalenka last month.
The 22-year-old broke Samsonova’s serve in the sixth game and sealed the opening set when the unseeded Russian slammed a forehand into the net.
Swiatek looked assured throughout and quickly notched another break in set two when her error-prone opponent fired another forehand wide.
And when Samsonova sent an ill-advised drop-shot into the net to hand her the victory, the Pole doubled over with emotion before a delighted crowd.