American Ann Li’s is finishing strong in 2025. The 25-year-old won her second career title on Sunday in Guangzhou, defeating Lulu Sun, 7-6(6), 6-2.
Li, who did not drop a set all week, will move to a career high ranking of 33 as a result of her triumph, she was no. 108 this time last year.
The Pennsylvania native battled through a tense opening set that featured ten unconverted break points — five by each player — and eventually converted her second point of the set to level against the 116th-ranked qualifier.
Li had two set points with Sun serving at 4-5 in the opener; Sun had a break point with Li serving at 5-5; Li had two more set points in the next game, but the former Texan Longhorn fought back valiantly.
Sun even led 5-4 on the next two serves, but Li took four of the next five points and converted her sixth point to take the 66-minute opening set.
Li took the momentum and carried it to victory in the second set. She took a 3-0 doubleheader lead and made it stand up. Li improves to 1-2 lifetime against Sun, who was vying for her first career WTA title.
Sun will rise from 116 to No. 87 in Monday’s WTA rankings as a result of reaching the final.
