Swiatek beats Samsonova to win China Open

BEIJING, Oct 08 (AFP): Iga Swiatek delivered a dominant performance to win the China Open on Sunday, crowning a resurgent run of form with a straight-sets win over Liudmila Samsonova in Beijing.
The world number two triumphed 6-2, 6-2 to take the first China Open women's title since 2019, after Beijing lifted its isolationist zero-Covid policy. The victory capped a strong showing for four-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek, who was deposed as the world's top-ranked player by Aryna Sabalenka last month.
She broke Samsonova's serve in the sixth game and sealed the opening set when the unseeded Russian slammed a forehand into the net. Swiatek looked assured throughout and quickly notched another break in set two when her error-prone opponent fired another forehand wide. And when Samsonova sent an ill-advised drop-shot into the net to hand her the victory, the Pole doubled over with emotion before a delighted crowd.