Sabalenka powers past Kontaveit to claim Wuhan Open title

Wuhan, September 29: Aryna Sabalenka powered past Anett Kontaveit to win the Wuhan Open final on Saturday (September 29). The 20-year-old claimed the second title of her career with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Estonian Kontaveit in China.

Sabalenka becomes the youngest ever player to win a Premier 5 tournament, while only Marketa Vondrousova and Olga Danilovic among active players have won WTA events at a younger age.

It is the second tour triumph in 2018 for the Belarusian, who had lifted the trophy in New Haven back in August after defeating Carla Suarez Navarro.

.@SabalenkaA fights to take the opening set over Kontaveit, 6-3!

She's a set from the @wuhanopentennis title! pic.twitter.com/1pLxbiYtFv

— WTA (@WTA) September 29, 2018

Sunday's showdown was the first meeting between Sabalenka and Kontaveit and the second Wuhan final in a row to feature two unseeded players, with last year having seen Caroline Garcia defeat Ashleigh Barty.

Sabalenka broke in the fourth game of the match and held firm to take the opening set in 39 minutes, having survived three deuces in game six.

Kontaveit struggled to cope with the power of her opponent at times and failed to earn as much as a break point throughout.

A tight second set swung Sabalenka's way when she broke to love to go 5-3 ahead, and she held her nerve to claim the biggest win of her career.

.@SabalenkaA takes the biggest title of her career at @wuhanopentennis!

Downs Kontaveit, 6-3, 6-3! pic.twitter.com/BMbusxNlr0

— WTA (@WTA) September 29, 2018