ZHENGZHOU, China - Zheng Saisai outlasted compatriot and No.4 seed Wang Yafan to take the Biyuan Cup Zhengzhou Women's Tennis Open title on Sunday, winning the final 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.
Zheng led by a double break in the opening set before a recovery from Wang, who took the set 7-5. Unseeded Zheng would not let early advantages in the following two sets slip however, easing home for the loss of just three more games to win in two hours, 25 minutes.
She took the second set 6-2 to pull level before another comfortable set secured the title, her first since her comeback and also her second 125k title, following her success in Dalian in 2015.
It capped an impressive week for Zheng, 24, who dropped just one set en route to the final and won four sets to love. She beat second seed Peng Shuai in the first round.
Wang accounted for eighth seed Zhu Lin and Yanina Wickmayer, No.6 seed, on her way to Sunday's final, dropping just one set before defeat to Zheng.
The match was also the second successive Zhengzhou showpiece to be contested by home compatriots, after Wang Qiang overcame Peng in 2017.
Wang had won the event in 2015, when the tournament was still classed as an ITF event, but was unable to replicate her form from three years ago.
However, the Beijing-born player, who turns 24 at the end of the month, will rise to a career-high rank of No.86 in Monday's update. Zheng will move up 15 places, to No.124.
Wang came into the match as favorite, already having a 2018 title to her name after winning the doubles at the Taiwan Open in February, alongside Duan Ying-Ying. She also impressed in reaching the fourth round at the Miami Open last month.
A long day for Wang continued as she took part in the doubles final later on Sunday, alongside Duan. The No.4 seeds beat Briton Naomi Broady and Yanina Wickmayer, of Belgium - the third seeds - in straight sets, 7-6(5), 6-3.
