Shnaider wins Hong Kong Open for fourth title of 2024

Russia’s Diana Shnaider won her fourth WTA title of a breakout season Sunday as she blew away Katie Boulter in straight sets at the Hong Kong Open. The top seed dismantled Britain’s second-seeded Boulter 6-1, 6-2 in a one-sided final at Victoria Park lasting 71 minutes. The 20-year-old Shnaider, who is ranked 14th in the […]

Russia’s Diana Shnaider won her fourth WTA title of a breakout season Sunday as she blew away Katie Boulter in straight sets at the Hong Kong Open.

The top seed dismantled Britain’s second-seeded Boulter 6-1, 6-2 in a one-sided final at Victoria Park lasting 71 minutes.

The 20-year-old Shnaider, who is ranked 14th in the world, added the Hong Kong crown to titles in Budapest, Bad Homburg in Germany and Hua Hin, Thailand.

“This year I did an amazing job,” she said, admitting that she will have a target on her back from now on after such a successful 2024.

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“Next year everyone will be getting ready, knowing my game.”

She added: “Even if there are a lot of losses, I’ll be as positive as possible, just keep building my game, my mentality, my physical strength.

“There are a lot of things I can improve and achieve to be, say, a top-10 player. It’s not a rush, I’ll have to be patient.”

Separately, Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic defeated Rebecca Sramkova of Slovakia to clinch the Jiangxi Open in China.

The 32-year-old Golubic won the final 6-3, 7-5 for her first title since 2016.