Tennis News:
Guangzhou/Tokyo/Vienna/Basel
Written by Edda Bevilacqua
Guangzhou, China: Olga Danilovic (Serbia) Defeats American Caroline Dolehide
Serbia’s Olga Danilovic defeated Caroline Dolehide of the United States in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1 to take the title in Guangzhou, China. The Serbian player, ranked 86th in the world, won her second career title at Guangzhou, adding to the title she won at Moscow in 2018. Danilovic said of her victory:
“I’m so happy with the way I played during the tournament. I’m so proud of myself and my team. I really showed what I can do. I’m very excited to be finishing the season this way.”
Danilovic easily defeated Dolehide, who made the final by defeating Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti in an exhausting semifinal match that went to a third set tiebreak. Danilovic completed her victory against Dolehide in the final with a sensational forehand winner on her third match point.
Toray Pan Pacific Open, Tokyo, Japan: China’s Qinwen Zheng Victorious in Japanese Capital
China’s Qinwen Zheng, 22 years of age, defeated Sofia Kenin of the United States in straight sets 7-6, 6-3 to take the Toray Pan Pacific title in Tokyo, Japan. She has qualified for a spot in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) year-end final, which begins November 2, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Zheng has compiled an impressive record this year, winning her third career title and recording an impressive 28-4 win-loss record. Zheng is currently ranked number seven in the world.
American Sofia Kenin, 25, was once ranked as high as number four in the world, but a series of injuries has brought her ranking down to 155.
Vienna, Austria: Jack Draper (Great Britain) Wins Vienna Title Over Karen Khachanov (Russia)
Great Britain’s Jack Draper, 22 years of age, captured his second career title at the Erste Bank Championship in Vienna, Austria. He defeated Russia’s Karen Khachanov in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5. Draper was leading comfortably at 4-0 in the second set, when Khachanov staged a momentary comeback, winning five games in a row. However, Draper managed to close out the second set and win the title.
Draper joins an impressive list of British champions in Vienna, becoming the fourth British man to win the title, joining Greg Rusedski, Tim Henman and Andy Murray.
Basel, Switzerland: Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (France) Wins Swiss Indoors Championship Over Ben Shelton (United States)
Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi-Perricard defeated Ben Shelton of the United States to win the Swiss Indoors Championship in Basel. Mpetshi-Perricard prevailed in straight sets 6-4, 7-6 without dropping serve the entire tournament. He became the lowest-ranked player to win the tournament since its inception in 1975.
Mpetshi-Perricard, ranked Number 50 in the world, was triumphant over sixth-seeded Ben Shelton. He said:
“It’s amazing to win a tournament like that, a 500 for the first time for me. I just can be happy with myself, with what I did today and the past five days. It’s amazing to win here.
Mpetshi-Perricard began 2024 ranked Number 200 in the world. He will improve to Number 31 when the new rankings come out Monday, October 28. American Ben Shelton, for his part, will rise from his present Number 23 ranking to re-enter the top 20.
