TENNIS
China’s Peng Shuai keeps Jiangxi title at home in one-sided final
The 31-year-old Peng made light work of unseeded Nao Hibino in just under 90 minutes
Beijing — China’s Peng Shuai claimed the Jiangxi Open title on Sunday by overpowering unseeded Nao Hibino 6-3 6-2 in the final. The 31-year-old Peng made light work of the Japanese in just under 90 minutes to add to the maiden WTA singles crown she won in 2016, also on home soil, in Tianjin. Peng, ranked 32nd in the world and the tournament’s second seed, was never really in trouble on the outdoor hard courts at Nanchang. Hibino, 92nd in the world, drove a backhand into the net from the baseline to give the home favourite the match. Peng, nearly a decade older than her opponent, made the perfect start to the hard-court season. The tournament, where high temperatures troubled players throughout the week, had opened up nicely for Peng. Fellow Chinese and top seed Zhang Shuai and European stars Jelena Jankovic and Kristyna Pliskova all tumbled out early to leave Peng as the sole remaining seed in the semifinals. AFP
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