Diana Shnaider overwhelmed Katie Boulter in the final of the Hong Kong Open.
Shnaider, the tournament top seed, stormed through the British No 1, dominating as she took a straight-sets victory 6-1 6-2.
Shnaider opened strongly, racing ahead to 5-0 in the first set before Boulter could even hold her first service game.
She sealed that with a good backhand landed across the court.
But Boulter continued to struggle in the next set. In the opening game of the second, with the Briton serving, Shnaider forced her way to deuce and kept the pressure on Boulter, eventually forcing another break of serve.
Diana Shnaider won her fourth WTA title this season (Associated Press)
That left Boulter struggling against the tide and Shnaider continued remorselessly to punish her service game, delivering a second break in the second set.
Boulter clawed a game her way to avoid a bagel, though Shnaider was so determined she bashed her racket on the court in frustration at not breaking the Briton yet again.
Shnaider blazed an ace past Boulter to put herself 5-1 up in the second set. Pressing the Briton hard, she reached championship point against the Briton’s serve, but Boulter managed to steer herself through that game.
Boulter could not keep her form going into the final (Associated Press)
But the 20-year-old Shnaider would not be denied, striking winners past Boulter to secure her fourth WTA title this season in imperious fashion.
“It feels amazing honestly,” Shnaider said afterwards. “I hope it keeps going like this every season. I will do my best to work as hard as I can to achieve this.
“But I’m very happy, it’s my last tournament of the season, and to finish it here with a trophy, with my family at this crazy stadium, crazy atmosphere, with this support through the whole week, it’s just an enjoyable week for me and so memorable.”
What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?
- WTA Finals Riyadh – (November 2-9)
- Belgrade Open – ATP 250 (November 3-9)
- Moselle Open, Metz – ATP 250 (November 3-9)
- Nitto ATP Finals, Turin – (November 10-17)
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