Unstoppable Sania, Hingis win seventh title

Wuhan, October 3

Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis continued their superb run as they clinched their seventh title together by winning the Wuhan Open women’s doubles title here today.

The top seeds comfortably beat the Romanian pair of Irina-Camelia Begu and Monica Niculescu 6-2 6-3 in the title clash. Mirza and Hingis dropped serve three times and fought back from a 2-0 deficit in the second set to emerge triumphant.

With today’s win, the Indo-Swiss pair has won seven WTA doubles titles this year, including the Wimbledon and US Open titles. They have won their last three tournaments — 13 matches — without dropping a single set.

They now head to the China Open, where they have been given the top billing.

Venus wins 47th career title

Venus Williams captured her 47th WTA career title on Saturday, and her biggest in five years, when she won the Wuhan Open, beating Wimbledon runner-up Garbine Muguruza. The 35-year-old American was leading Muguruza 6-3 3-0 when the Spaniard, struggling with injury, retired, handing the title to Williams, who was already well on top and had won the last five games in a row.

A sympathetic Williams consoled Muguruza, one of the best young players in the game who had a tough semifinal with Germany’s Angelique Kerber, during the victory presentation.

“Congratulations Garbine for making the final,” Williams said. “I know you had a tough match yesterday — it’s not easy when you don’t play your best, and I probably didn’t have a chance if you felt well!”

Muguruza traded blows with Williams through most of the first set but suddenly dropped her level of play after the seventh game. “This is a sad day,” said Muguruza. — PTI, Reuters