Victorious Weekend Warriors

Chengdu Open Final: Pablo Carreno Busta needed a victory, and he got one today. Yet, it was not an easy victory for the Spaniard as his opponent, Alexander Bublik, was equally determined to walk away with the trophy. Although Bublik took the first set, he was unable to secure the victory. It was a very competitive match with both players battling for every point; thus, it was only fitting that the match was decided in a tiebreak. Carreno Busta fought his way back from losing to first set to secure the 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(3) victory and claim his first title since 2017.

Zhuhai Championships

Getty Images North America: Alex de Minaur

Adrian Mannarino may be a tad frustrated after losing this final; yet, perhaps, he should not be too hard on himself as Alex de Minaur was simply too tough an opponent today. The Aussie never relented and fought doggedly for every point and in the end, he was rewarded with the straight-sets victory. Although the Frenchman had the lead in the first set, his hesitancy at a crucial moment cost him the first set and sealed his fate. De Minaur won 7-6(4), 6-4 to claim his third ATP Tour singles title of the season.

Wuhan Open Final

Getty Images Europe: Aryna Sabalenka

The ninth seed, Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus, was pitted against the thirty-fifth ranked American, Alison Riske. Their two previous encounters have gone the distance; thus, it was no surprise that yesterday’s final also went the distance. It was their second meeting in a final, and like their earlier encounter this year, the Belarusian came out victorious.

Riske got the first break in the first set; however, she could not keep the lead and that perhaps ended up costing her the match. Although she fought back in the second set, the American ran out of gas in the third set. Sabalenka won 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, successfully defending her 2018 Wuhan title.

Tashkent Open Final

Julian Finney/Getty Images North America: Alison Van Uytvanck

Alison Van Uytvanck defeated Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. The bitter pill for Cirstea to swallow was her failure to convert zero of the eight break point opportunities she had in the third set. What will frustrate the Romanian even more is the knowledge that she had never lost a set to the Belgium in their two previous encounters and yesterday when it mattered most, she could not win the title. With the victory, Van Uytvanck claimed her second WTA singles title of the season. Cirstea has not won a singles title since 2008, which makes this loss even more painful.

SOURCE OF IMAGES: Zimbio.com (main image: FELIPE TRUEBA/Getty Images North America: Pablo Carreno Busta)

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