Samsonova beat Zheng to win WTA Pan Pacific Open

TOKYO, Sept. 25– Liudmila Samsonova from Russia claimed her third title this season after beating Chinese teenager Zheng Qinwen in straight sets at the WTA Pan Pacific Open on Sunday. “Huge congrats to Qinwen and her team because she’s playing amazingly,” said the winner, who had eliminated Zheng’s compatriots Wang Xinyu and Zhang Shuai in the tournament,…

TOKYO, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) — Liudmila Samsonova from Russia claimed her third title this season after beating Chinese teenager Zheng Qinwen in straight sets at the WTA Pan Pacific Open on Sunday.

The 23-year-old took the 11th game when leveling 5-5, 40-all as Zheng hit a double fault before winning the first set 7-5. In the second set, in-form Samsonova showed her stability and wrapped up the match with an identical 7-5.

The 19-year-old Zheng, who reached her first WTA 500 final, has become the second teenager to advance to the WTA 500 final or higher event this season after American Coco Gauff at Roland Garros.

“Huge congrats to Qinwen and her team because she’s playing amazingly,” said the winner, who had eliminated Zheng’s compatriots Wang Xinyu and Zhang Shuai in the tournament, applauding her Chinese opponent.

“We were fighting every point. It was tough,” she added.

Samsonova, who had captured two championships this season in Washington and Cleveland, has now taken 18 victories in recent 19 matches, only losing to Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia at the US Open.

After this win, her live ranking has moved up to a career-high No. 22 from No. 30, while youngster Zheng, who expressed her desire to become the world’s top 30 earlier this season, has risen to world No. 28. Enditem