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Sabalenka fights back against Riske to win Shenzhen Open

 New Nation
 Published: 12:00 AM, 06 January 2019
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 03: Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates winning the second set during the women's singles fourth round match against Naomi Osaka of Japan on Day Eight of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 3, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

AFP, Beijing :
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka won the Shenzhen Open Saturday after a nail-biting clash against three-time finalist Alison Riske.
Sabalenka lost the first set to her American opponent, before coming back to win the match 4-6, 7-6, 6-3.
The Shenzhen open was the Belarusian’s fifth WTA final in the last ten months and her first international trophy. The world number 13 had a breakthrough season last year when she won titles at Wuhan and New Haven.
“It was a tough day for us, especially to come back after the first set. She (Riske) played unbelievable, an incredible match,” Sabalenka said.
“To start the season with a title, it gives you more belief in yourself, and hopefully I can do well at the Australian Open.”
A quarterfinalist on her debut in Shenzhen last year, Sabalenka lost to eventual champion Simona Halep.
Sabalenka cruised past home favourite Wang Yafan, 6-2, 6-1, while Riske beat former world number two and two-time major finalist Vera Zvonareva in the semi-finals Saturday morning, after rain washed out much of Thursday’s play and set the schedule behind by a day.