Ann Li ends four-year title drought in Guangzhou
Years of finals near-misses dissolved on Guangzhou’s hard courts as Ann Li outlasted Lulu Sun in a tense straight-sets battle, her poise under pressure securing a long-awaited WTA crown.
In the balmy air of Guangzhou, Ann Li captured her first WTA title in four years on Sunday, edging Lulu Sun 7-6(6), 6-2 to lift the Open trophy. The 25-year-old American, seeded second, powered through the draw without dropping a set en route to her sixth career final, a run that showcased her tactical patience on these medium-paced hard courts. This victory shattered a three-match finals skid since her 2021 WTA 250 win in Tenerife, Spain, including unseeded runner-up finishes in Singapore and Cleveland this year.
Flipping head-to-head pressure
Li arrived with a 0-2 record against Sun, the 2024 WTA Newcomer of the Year and former world No. 39 who battled through qualifying for her second final. Yet she seized control early, blending deep crosscourt forehands with inside-out backhands to disrupt the New Zealander’s flat power game. Facing break points in four service games during the first set, Li saved all five with crisp footwork and varied slice returns, her resolve turning murmurs from the stands into cheers as the hour-long set unfolded.
Tiebreak grit propels breakthrough
The tiebreak tested Li’s mettle, as she trailed 3-0 before clawing back to earn four set points—two at 5-4 on Sun’s serve, two more at 6-5—converting on the sixth to claim the set. Momentum surged into the second, where Li’s one–two combinations of serve and forehand broke Sun twice, her underspin slices neutralizing returns and pinning the qualifier deep. This win marks her as the eighth American to secure a singles title on the Hologic WTA Tour this year, the first in Guangzhou since Sofia Kenin’s 2019 triumph.
Doubles rally adds event depth
While Li’s story dominated, the doubles final delivered its own tension, with unseeded Katarzyna Piter of Poland and Janice Tjen of Indonesia rallying from a set down to beat Eudice Chong of Hong Kong and Liang En-shuo of Chinese Taipei 3-6, 6-3, 10-5. Trailing 6-3, 3-3, the pair won three straight games to force a match tiebreak, then captured the first three points of the decider for a commanding edge. From 4-3 ahead, they took six of the last eight points with sharp volleys and net poaches, their synergy turning the hard-court skid into a decisive surge.
For deeper tournament details, check the Guangzhou: Scores, Draw, and Order of play. Li’s flawless week not only rebuilds her confidence but signals a resurgent fall swing, where refined patterns and mental edge could unlock more hardware before the year closes.
