Sharapova wins Tianjin Open title

Former world no. 1 Maria Sharapova has won her first title since her return from a doping ban, beating Aryna Sabalenka 7-5 7-6 (10-8) in the Tianjin Open final.

The five-time Grand Slam winner was playing her seventh event since she returned to the tour in April after 15 months out.

She trailed 4-1 in both sets before overcoming the 19-year-old Belarusian, who was contesting her first WTA final, in two hours and five minutes.

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It is the 36th WTA tournament victory for the 30-year old.

Recall that Sharapova was denied a wildcard for the French Open, missed Wimbledon through injury and reached the US Open fourth round as a wildcard before losing to Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova.

But the Russian, who began the week ranked 86th in the world will move up to number 57 in the next world rankings as a result of this victory.

 

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