China’s Lin Zhu triumphed over Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko in the final of the 2023 Thailand Open in the seaside resort of Hua Hin on Sunday evening. It was Lin’s first-ever WTA final, and she was the first Chinese player to make it past the quarter-final stage at the Thailand Open. Tsurenko was once ranked 23 but competing in a major final for the first time in five years, did not give a smooth ride.
She battled back from match point down near the end of the second set, unsettling Lin enough to force the younger player into a series of unenforced errors.
“I would not be here without you guys,” Lin said, thanking her team and the fans who came out and supported her.
Tsurenko paid tribute to her “amazing” opponent, adding: “Days like this I hope you just have more and more, just play as amazing as you played today.”
