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Sharapova takes revenge on Sevastova in Beijing
Former world number one Maria Sharapova avenged her US Open loss to Anastasija Sevastova with a 7-6(3), 5-7, 7-6(7) victory over the Latvian in the China Open first round on Saturday.
The 30-year-old Russian, returning to court for the first time since her fourth-round exit at Flushing Meadows, came back from a break down three times before clinching the first set 7-3 in the tiebreak.
Despite dropping her serve in the opening game of the second, Sevastova, seeded 16th, rallied back to force a decider.
Sharapova, who had never lost a third-set tiebreak, needed a brave forehand winner at 6-5 before sealing a second-round spot in just over three hours.
She will take on the winner between American qualifier Jennifer Brady and Ekaterina Makarova of Russia in the second round.
Earlier in the day, second seed Simona Halep snapped her three-match losing streak with a hardfought 6-3 3-6 6-2 win over American Alison Riske.
The Romanian, who had not won a match since her defeat in the Cincinnati final to Garbine Muguruza, overcame a sloppy start before claiming 12 of the final 14 points to set up a second round clash against Magdalena Rybarikova or Eugenie Bouchard.
Germany's Angelique Kerber began her campaign with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka.
Kerber, the former world number one, came back from a break down to win five consecutive games in the second set to seal a second-round spot.
Twice Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, seeded 12th, produced an impressive array of powerful groundstrokes to beat fellow Czech left-hander Kristyna Pliskova 6-3, 7-5 in the opening round.
France's Garcia downs Barty to win Wuhan title
France's Caroline Garcia bagged her first Premier 5 level title at the Wuhan Open with a battling 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 6-2 win over Ashleigh Barty in the final.
The French Open quarter-finalist fired 32 winners and served eight aces, winning eight out of 16 break points to prevail in two hours and 43 minutes.
"A title is the best thing you can have in tennis! A big one or a small one doesn't matter. That is why you fight all year... I feel over the moon," Garcia said.
With three wins over top-10 ranked players this week, Barty is looking to build on her fine run in the home stretch of the season.
"I feel this is where I belong," she said.
"I have had a fantastic year so far and we have a chance to finish the year strong."
Earlier, Martina Hingis celebrated turning 37 by winning the doubles title partnering Taiwan's Yung-Jan Chan. The US Open champions beat Zhaoxuan Yang and Shuko Aoyama 7-6(5), 3-6, 10-4 for their third consecutive title in Wuhan.
