Iga Swiatek bulldozes Luidmila Samsanova in Beijing to win fifth title of season

Iga Swiatek made her return to the winners' circle in emphatic style on Sunday as the world No 2 eased to the China Open title for her fifth trophy of the season.

Swiatek, 22, was far too strong for Russian world No 22 Luidmila Samsanova, easing to a 6-2, 6-2 victory as the China Open made its return to the WTA Tour calendar for the first time since 2019, after Beijing lifted its zero-Covid policy.

It completed a rock-solid week from the Pole, who en route to the title ended US Open champion Coco Gauff's 16-match winning run in the semi-finals.

Swiatek shed tears of joy after her 69-minute masterclass, which left the four-time Grand Slam champion 465 points behind the top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and with a big chance to leapfrog the Belarusian at the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico.

The season finale, where the top eight players in the world face off, begins on October 29.

Beijing debutant Swiatek was handed the first break of the clash in the sixth game when Samsonova produced a double fault and the 22-year-old then wrapped up the opening set without committing a single unforced error.

Swiatek's superb serve proved to be her biggest weapon as she never faced a break point and raced ahead 4-1 in the second set before sealing the win with ease for her 16th title overall as world number 22 Samsonova made another error at the net.

"I'm very happy. For sure, it was the last thing I expected at the beginning of the tournament," Swaitek said after ending more than two months between titles. "This match today, even though the score makes it seem like it was easy, it wasn't. It was really intense and Liudmila put pressure on me.

"I'm happy that I was solid and consistent and till the end I could keep my focus. At the end I felt