Aryna Sabalenka has strengthened her grip on the year-end world No. 1 spot in the WTA rankings after beating Zheng Qinwen in three sets to win the Wuhan Open in China. The Belarusian eased through the first set and broke Zheng’s serve early in the second set to lead 6-3, *2-1. But Zheng, who had never broken Sabalenka in their three previous meetings, broke back for 2-2* before breaking twice more to take the second set 7-5. Sabalenka then roared ahead in the second set, going up *3-0, before Zh