Sabalenka d Kontaveit for Wuhan title

Aryna Sabalenka continued her rise in tennis by claiming her second WTA title in two months, after missing out in her first three finals appearances.

The 20 year old is destined for the top ten, and with her power game, has genuine claims for number one status in years to come.

Her first title was a Premier category tournament in New Haven, but her victory over Anett Kontaveit in The Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open was a step up to Premier 5 level.

The pair of big hitting players began as expected, with winners flowing, but interspersed with wild errors, Sabalenka contributing half a dozen in just the first two games.  The Belarusian settled quickly, though, her forehand the source of much hurt for Kontaveit.

Anett double faulted to present the first break point of the match, and Aryna converted with a winning drop shot.

The single service break led to a set win for Sabalenka 6-3.

Set two saw Sabalenka improve in every aspect of her game, and Kontaveit wasn’t helped with a poor first serve percentage.

Sabalenka was down 2-3 but won 16 of the last 20 points, producing down the line winners from both sides, cross court as well, coming to the net on occasion, and generally playing some of the best tennis seen this year.

The win was secured with a destructive backhand and the 6-3 6-3 scoreline enabled Aryna Sabalenka to move up to 16 in the world rankings, a new career high.  Anett Kontaveit also achieves a career high ranking of 21.

WTA Tashkent final

• Margarita Gasparyan defeated qualifier Anastasia Potapova 6-2 6-1

Margarita moves up 161 places to 138 in the world rankings, and Anastasia moves up 39 places into the top 100 at 93.

ATP Chengdu semi finals

• Fabio Fognini (1) defeated Taylor Fritz 6-7(5) 6-0 6-3
• Qualifier Bernard Tomic defeated João Sousa 6-4 6-4, and will play Fabio Fognini in the final

ATP Shenzhen semi finals 

• Qualifier Yoshihito Nishioka defeated Fernando Verdasco (5) 1-6 6-3 7-6(5)
• Pierre-Hugues Herbert defeated Alex de Minaur (7) 7-5 2-6 7-6(8), and will play Yoshihito Nishioka in the final