Wuhan: The top-seeded pair of Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis defeated the Romanian duo of Irina-Camelia Begu and Monica Niculescu in straight sets to win the women's doubles title at the Wuhan Open tennis tournament on Saturday.
The Indo-Swiss combination - which did not drop a single set through the tournament - barely broke a sweat as they vanquished their opponents 6-2, 6-3 in just one hour and nine minutes.
This is the seventh title that the Sania-Martina combination have won this year. The top ranked pair also won consecutive Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon and the US Open earlier this year.
This was also the Sania and Martina's second win over the Romanian pair this year. They had earlier defeated them 6-4, 6-1 in the second round of the Italian Open in Rome in May.
Sania hit winners from the baseline at regular intervals while Martina kept up the pressure on the Romanians with her quick reflexes and volleys. In the first set, the pair had taken a 2-0 lead before Irina and Monica hit back by breaking Hingis' serve in the third game.
But the Indo-Swiss combination claimed a break in the very next game to go 3-1 up. Sania and Martina clinched another service break in the eight game to take a one-set lead.
Irina and Monica made a strong start in the second set by taking a 2-0 lead. But Sania and Martina bounced back by winning four consecutive games to take control of the match.
In singles, Venus Williams captured her 47th WTA career title on Saturday, and her biggest in five years, when she won the Wuhan Open, beating Wimbledon runner-up Garbine Muguruza.
The 35-year-old American was leading Muguruza 6-3, 3-0 when the Spaniard, struggling with injury, retired, handing the title to Venus, who was already well on top and had won the last five games in a row.
A sympathetic Venus consoled Muguruza, one of the best young players in the game who had a tough semi-final with Germany's Angelique Kerber, during the victory presentation.
"Congratulations Garbine for making the final," Venus said. "I know you had a tough match yesterday - it's not easy when you don't play your best, and I probably didn't have a chance if you felt well!"
Muguruza traded blows with Venus through most of the first set but suddenly dropped her level of play after the seventh game. The 21-year-old lost the next five games on the trot before signalling she could not continue.
"This is a sad day today," said Muguruza. "I'm very sorry I had to retire today, but I had a really amazing week here in Wuhan. I really want to congratulate Venus. She's always such a tough player and she had an amazing week, as well." (Agencies)
