American Ann Li’s is finishing strong in 2025. The 25-year-old claimed her second career title on Sunday in Guangzhou, battling past Lulu Sun, 7-6(6), 6-2.
Li, who did not drop a set all week, will rise to a career-high ranking of No.33 as a result of her triumph, she was No.108 this time last year.
The Pennsylvania native fought through a tense opening set that featured ten unconverted break points – five from each player – and eventually converted her second set point in the tiebreaker against the 116-ranked qualifier.
Li had two set points with Sun serving at 4-5 in the opener; Sun had a break point with Li serving at 5-5; Li had another two set points in the next game, but the former Texas Longhorn fought her off valiantly.
Sun even led 5-4 in the breaker with two serves to come, but Li took four of the next five points and converted her sixth set point to take the 66-minute opening set.
Li took the momentum and rode it to victory in the second set. She took a 3-0 double-break lead and made it stand up. Li improves to 1-2 lifetime against Sun, who was bidding for her first career WTA title.
Sun will rise from 116 to No.87 in Monday’s WTA rankings as a result of reaching the final.
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