Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis in finals of China Open
The top-ranked Indo-Swiss pair of Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis continue their unbeaten run as they progress to the finals of the China Open. They beat the Chinese pair of Chen Liang and Yafan Wang in straight sets – 6-2, 6-3, in their semi-final match.
Each of the pairs committed 3 double faults in the 1 hour 6 minute match, which saw an ace from Mirza and Hingis, who saved two break points during the course of the match.
In their quarter-final match yesterday, the two beat Germany’s Julia Goerges and her Czech partner Karolina Pliskova 7-6 6-4 in the quarterfinals. They had appeared to struggle in the initial stages of that match, but came back strongly to take that win.
The pair, who gained the World No. 1 ranking earlier this year, have taken 2 Slams – Wimbledon and the US Open this year, finishing as runners-up at the French Open at Roland Garros. They have had 5 WTA title wins this year together, with the most recent also in China, at the Wuhan Open and Guanghzou Open.
The Swiss has also partnered Leander Paes this year, with immense success – the pair took 3 Grand Slam victories this year, at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
Both Hingis and Mirza feature in the top 5 of the list of players with the most doubles title at WTA events. Zimbabwe’s Cara Black, who is known for being a doubles specialist, holds that record with 60, with her occasional partner, South African-born American tennis player Liezel Huber second with 53. The Huber-Black partnership was a very successful one, with the pair taking 4 Grand Slam victories together.
Hingis is third on the list, with a staggering 47 titles. The Swiss Miss, as she is known, is one of tennis’ most legendary figures, and holds a series of ‘youngest-ever’ records; she is the youngest ever Grand Slam singles champion and the youngest World No. 1. She took victory at the Wimbledon doubles in 1996, before even turning 16, and gained the World No. 1 ranking a year later.
This will be their 7th non-Grand Slam WTA final appearance this year.