American teen Ashlyn Krueger stunned China’s Zhu Lin to claim her first WTA title at the thrilling final of the Japan Open. The 19-year-old, ranked 123rd in the world, emerged victorious with a confident performance, winning 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) against the top-seeded Zhu Lin in Osaka.
Krueger’s remarkable achievement came after an exceptional week, where she reached the final without dropping a single set. It was a significant milestone for the Texan player, who competed in her first-ever career final and only her 11th tournament on the WTA tour.
Zhu Lin, ranked 35th in the world, was aiming for her second WTA title after triumphing in the Thailand Open earlier this year by defeating Lesia Tsurenko. With her recent victory over Victoria Azarenka at the US Open, Lin was considered the favorite going into the final. However, Krueger’s powerful game proved too challenging for her opponent, with the American delivering seven aces during the match.
In their first-ever encounter, Krueger quickly established dominance in the opening set, clinching it 6-3 in just 36 minutes with a break of Lin’s initial service game. The second set was a more closely contested battle, as Lin took an early lead. Nevertheless, Krueger displayed great resilience and managed to force a tiebreak, eventually winning the match in one hour and 36 minutes.
Meanwhile, women’s professional tennis tournaments are set to return to China after a hiatus of less than two years. This decision comes after the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) had previously announced a boycott due to concerns surrounding the safety of players and staff, sparked by the disappearance of player Peng Shuai and her allegations of sexual assault against a senior Chinese official.
The upcoming WTA tournament in Guangzhou on Monday will mark the first mainland China event since 2019. Although no top-20 players are expected to participate, it is anticipated that the tournament will attract significant attention and interest.
The WTA suspended activities in China in December 2021 as a result of Peng Shuai’s disappearance and subsequent retraction of her accusations. The tennis governing body emphasized the importance of player safety and declared their refusal to hold tournaments in China until Beijing provided guarantees regarding the well-being of Peng and the broader concerns raised.
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