ATX Open: Yuan Yue beats Wang Xiyu in first all-Chinese final outside Asia in 18 years

World No 68 Yuan beats compatriot at ATX Open in Austin to clinch her maiden WTA title

It is the first all-Chinese decider outside the continent since Zheng Jie defeated Li Na in the 2006 Estoril championship match

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Yuan Yue (left) and Wang Xiyu pose with the Chinese flag after their final in Austin. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 11:41am, 4 Mar 2024Updated: 2:57pm, 4 Mar 2024

Yuan Yue came out on top in a rare all-Chinese final to claim her first WTA title at the ATX Open in Texas.

Eighth seed Yuan was facing her compatriot Wang Xiyu, the sixth seed, in the women’s tour’s first tournament final to feature two Chinese players since Wang Qiang defeated Zheng Saisai to triumph at the Nanchang event in 2018.

Not only that, but the WTA 250 event’s decider was also the first all-Chinese final outside Asia since Zheng Jie saw off Li Na to clinch victory in the 2006 Estoril championship match.

The occasion produced a keenly fought battle at Austin’s Westwood Country Club that was shaded by Yuan as she prevailed 6-4, 7-6 on Sunday, local time.

It took Yuan two hours and 13 minutes to end Wang’s resistance, and she needed seven championship points before finally getting her hands on the silverware.

Wang was chasing what would have been her second career WTA title, having gone all the way at the Guangzhou Open in her only other tour final last September. That event marked the return to China of the Women’s Tennis Association following a two-year suspension of tournaments there over the governing body’s stance on the Peng Shuai affair.