Zhang Shuai wins in Lyon

Final day in Lyon.

2022 Open 6ème Sens - Métropole de Lyon - a WTA 250 tournament, on Hard Indoor, in Lyon, France, 28 February - 6 March 2022.

Defending champion:

Qualifier Clara Tauson who defeated qualifier Viktorija Golubic 6-4 6-1

Final:

Zhang Shuai (8) (China) v wildcard Dayana Yastremska (Ukraine)

Before this final, the players had met twice, with one win apiece. Last time was the round of sixteen at Wimbledon in 2019, where Zhang Shuai was the victor.

Zhang Shuai was in her fifth final, aiming for a third title. She hadn’t claimed one since Guangzhou in September 2017.

Yastremska was also in her fifth final, hoping for a fourth title, her most recent being Strasbourg in May 2019.

Neither player was troubled on serve in the first set until the sixth game, where Yastremska used her strong forehand to force Zhang into errors.

Eventually Yastremska converted the first of two break points.

That was the only break chance for the set which Yastremska served out 6-3.

More pressure was brought to bear on serve in the early stages of set two. Three breaks of serve in the opening four games saw Zhang take a 3-1 lead.

After that, aside from the seventh game, where Zhang was taken to deuce, only one point was surrendered to serve.

Zhang levelled the match, serving out the set 6-3 with a love game. 

In the decider, Yastremska broke Zhang on two occasions, and had leads of 2-0 and 4-2.

Each time, Zhang would break back immediately, and so the scoreline ultimately read 4-4.

Serving in the ninth game, Yastremska had 30-15, but this time it was the Zhang forehand that helped win three successive points and break for a 5-4 advantage.

Serving for the match Zhang raced to 40-0.,Yastremska fought to save two match points, but Zhang won on the third 3-6 6-3 6-4.

This was the first title for Zhang Shuai in four and a half years, but in making the final also a triumph for Yastremska.

Dayana Yastremska was forced to shelter with her family in an underground garage in her home country Ukraine just a week ago, and eventually was able to make it out and get to Lyon. In unenviable circumstances, Yastremska made it through to her first final in over two years.