The Insider Wrap is a recap of all the pieces you’ll want to know from the week that was. Final week, the Hologic WTA Tour returned to Beijing for the primary time in 4 years, the place Iga Swiatek gained the China Open in her first look within the Chinese language capital.
Efficiency of the Week: Iga Swiatek
With 4 Grand Slam titles and 75 weeks because the World No.1 on her resume, Swiatek has skilled success in practically each event she has confronted. However this was her event debut in Beijing, and he or she entered a venue new to her whereas nonetheless searching for her first WTA 1000 title of the 12 months.
Swiatek’s journey by means of the Beijing draw held quite a few twists and turns. She needed to oust compatriot Magda Linette within the Spherical of 16, which was the primary all-Polish match at a WTA 1000 occasion since 2009.
Within the quarterfinals, Swiatek was two factors away from defeat towards Caroline Garcia earlier than she turned that match in her favor. Subsequent, Swiatek needed to avenge her first loss to Coco Gauff simply to advance to the ultimate.
In any case of that, Swiatek eased previous Liudmila Samsonova to win her first WTA 1000 title since Rome in Could of 2022. Swiatek’s first look in Beijing ended fruitfully, together with her tour-leading fifth title of 2023 and her sixteenth total.
Learn extra: Why Swiatek’s Beijing win was an necessary second of self-discovery
“I actually simply loved taking part in right here on this floor and on these stadiums,” Swiatek mentioned after the ultimate. “Every little thing form of labored. Generally I really feel like that [like] at Roland Garros, that I actually know this place, that all the pieces is very nice and cozy. Right here I’m for the primary time, however I additionally felt that [here].”
Honor Roll
Liudmila Samsonova: Similar to she did final season, Samsonova has performed a few of her greatest tennis within the latter phases of the 12 months. Samsonova beat Grand Slam champions Petra Kvitova, Jelena Ostapenko and Elena Rybakina to make the Beijing last, which was her second WTA 1000 last since August.
“I feel I made lots of good issues this week,” mentioned Samsonova, who’s now 4-0 towards 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina. “For the week, it is one thing unbelievable. I did not count on it, so nice.”
Coco Gauff: The Reigning US Open champion Gauff prolonged her profitable streak to 16 straight matches, the longest this 12 months, earlier than she fell to Swiatek within the semifinals. Gauff turned the primary American teenager with a streak this lengthy since Serena Williams in 1999.
Elena Rybakina: Rybakina is undefeated towards present World No.1 gamers this 12 months. After three wins towards Swiatek whereas she was ranked No.1, Rybakina beat new No.1 Aryna Sabalenka within the Beijing quarterfinals. Rybakina can also be unbeaten in WTA 1000 quarterfinals this 12 months.
Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo: Bouzkova and Sorribes Tormo got here again from a set right down to edge Chan Hao-Ching and Giuliana Olmos for the Beijing doubles title. It’s their second workforce title and their first WTA 1000 title.
Marketa Vondrousova, Ons Jabeur and Karolina Muchova: Tunisia’s Jabeur and the Czech pair of Vondrousova and Muchova certified for the WTA Finals, finishing the eight-player singles subject which can contest the year-end championship in Cancun.
Picture of the Week
Blissful champ, glad followers: Iga Swiatek and the crowds have been ecstatic on the finish of the week.
Notable Numbers
5: By profitable her fifth title of the 12 months in Beijing, Swiatek is the primary participant to win 5 or extra titles in back-to-back seasons since Serena Williams in 2014 and 2015.
6: Swiatek took residence her sixth profession WTA 1000 title, which is probably the most gained by any participant earlier than the age of 23 (relationship again to the beginning of the WTA 1000 tier in 2009). Swiatek surpassed Caroline Wozniacki, who gained 5 WTA 1000 titles earlier than the age of 23.
243: Rybakina has served 243 aces at WTA 1000 occasions this 12 months. Because the WTA 1000 tier was launched in 2009, it’s the most by a participant in a calendar 12 months, passing Karolina Pliskova’s mark of 234 in 2019.
32: Samsonova hit 32 winners in her victory over Rybakina, which is probably the most a participant has hit towards Rybakina at any WTA 1000 occasion this 12 months.
Highlights of the Week
Coco Gauff and Veronika Kudermetova have been each on profitable streaks coming into their Spherical of 16 match in Beijing, and the in-form gamers introduced a few of their prime pictures into the showdown:
Subsequent Up
A busy week is on faucet, with three Hologic WTA Tour occasions operating in Asia.
The WTA 500 Financial institution of Communications Zhengzhou Open in Zhengzhou, China options Prime 10 gamers Maria Sakkari, Ons Jabeur and Caroline Garcia, in addition to Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova, Chinese language No.1 Zheng Qinwen and Beijing finalist Liudmila Samsonova.
Zhengzhou 2023: Match information | Draw evaluation
On the two WTA 250 occasions, World No.4 Jessica Pegula and Jelena Ostapenko lead the Hana Financial institution Korea Open in Seoul, whereas former World No.1 Victoria Azarenka and Beatriz Haddad Maia are the highest seeds on the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open.
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Information Abstract:
- Swiatek dominates Beijing in memorable debut
- Verify all information and articles from the most recent Tennis updates.