British ladies’s No. 1 Katie Boulter was comprehensively overwhelmed 6-1, 6-2 by prime seed Diana Shnaider within the Hong Kong Open closing on the Victoria Park Tennis Centre on Sunday.
Boulter was looking for to win her third WTA title of the yr however got here up brief towards her 20-year-old opponent.
“I simply need to say an enormous congratulations to Diana and her household, and her staff again house,” Boulter mentioned. “What an unbelievable week, what an unbelievable season — you deserve each single minute of it … You completely killed me at the moment however I will get you subsequent time!”
Regardless of the defeat, the nice kind Boulter has confirmed in Asia — she additionally reached the semifinals of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo final week — has seen her break into the highest 25 on the planet rankings for the primary time in her profession.
The Brit was no match for Shnaider within the opening levels of the match because the Russian left-hander raced right into a 5-0 lead that she ultimately transformed when Boulter made her tenth unforced error of the set.
Boulter constantly struggled together with her service recreation all through the match, making twice as many double faults (4) as aces (2) and successful simply 50% of first-serve factors.
Shnaider made equally mild work of the second set, providing Boulter no manner again right into a contest with a succession of eye-catching forehand winners down the road.
The Russian’s triumph was her fourth WTA title and fourth top-level crown of the yr, having already gained the Dangerous Homburg Open, Hua Hin Championships and Budapest Grand Prix.
“It feels superb, actually. I hope it can hold going like this each season,” Shnaider mentioned. “I’ll do my greatest and work as exhausting as I can. I am very completely happy.
“It is my final event of the season and to complete it right here with a trophy on this loopy ambiance with this assist. It is so memorable.”