Shnaider rolls to fourth title of the season in Hong Kong

Diana Shnaider’s trophy-laden breakout season has been gilded in glory as the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2024 champion on Sunday.

A simply sensational 6-1, 6-2 showing over No.2 seed Katie Boulter means the 20-year-old has lifted a fourth Hologic WTA title this season. It’s a fitting note for Shnaider, who revealed earlier in the week that four just so happens to be her favorite number.

“Well, I was born second of April and I just love those combinations with two and four. Obviously it’s the season of 2024,” added the World No.14. “There are crazy circumstances, like the Hua Hin (Thailand) title I won was happening for the fourth year.

“Then I won Bad Homburg and that was happening for the fourth year! The number just keeps following me. I guess it’s like a lucky charm for me.”

Shnaider’s fourth title puts her amongst elite company. Only Iga Swiatek (five) and World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka (four) have captured more. Both are competing this week at the WTA Finals Riyadh. If Shnaider continues her surge next year, she could find herself right alongside them in future editions.

“It’s nice to be in that company,” said Shnaider. “I will definitely push harder to be on the same stage as them, to win more tournaments and at even higher categories. That’s the future. This year I did an amazing job.

“Next year, everyone will be getting ready, knowing my game, ‘Oh she’s tough,’ stuff like that. But it’s important for me to play against the best in the world. Even if there are a lot of losses, I’ll be as positive as possible, just keep building my game, my mentality, my physical strength. There are a lot of things I can improve and achieve to be, say, a Top 10 player. It’s not a rush, I’ll have to be patient.”

Shnaider, who denied Leylah Fernandez a title defense in the semifinals with an emphatic 6-4, 6-2 victory, replicated a similarly sublime standard on Sunday at Victoria Park.

An exquisite forehand lob was applauded by Boulter as it looped out of reach towards the baseline as Shnaider soared to a double-break lead. The top seed clattered a backhand down-the-line winner from out wide, while finesse on the backhand drop shot demonstrated her full shot repertoire.

Boulter flicked a backhand half volley en route to a first game on the scoreboard after 33 minutes, prompting the British No.1 to a roar of approval from the sell-out crowd.

Shnaider did not relent. At the start of the second set the 20-year-old returned a drop shot in kind and then retrieved Boulter’s response with spell-binding defence. Boulter overhit her overhead long to surrender the instant break. Shnaider was giving her no time, rushing her every move.

Boulter admitted she “emptied the tank” mentally in the semifinals and appeared to run out of resources, whereas Shnaider was in top gear, proving why she’s risen from World No.97 at the start of the year to a new career-high No.12 on Monday.

“I’m so happy, so proud, the way I competed this week,” Shnaider said. “It’s a dream to finish the season like this with my family by my side.”

It’s the first title lift that all of Shnaider’s family have been courtside to witness. Time now for the quartet to become tourists in Hong Kong.

“My mum already created a plan,” revealed Shnaider. “I have three days with them and one of my things I want to do is go to Disneyland and the Ocean Park. I have a younger brother, so I’m very excited to go and get some adrenaline. I had some adrenaline in a couple of matches here!”

Despite the defeat, Boulter is seeking a bright 2025 following two titles this season and a strong finish in Hong Kong.

“This is great motivation for me for next year,” Boulter said. “I said to my team after the Olympics that I wanted to try and push on at the end of the year. I finally found some form again on this Asia trip, like I started the year with. I think two-thirds of the season has been my best form. I’ve played a full calendar, my body feels good, so there are so many positives.

“There are a few things I want to go back to the drawing board with, but this is where it gets exciting. I don’t think I’m playing at my very best, I have so much I can add to my game. I’m very happy, but I’m not satisfied, I’ve got so much further to go. I’m probably more motivated to push on than ever and this week has reminded me where my level is it.”

Earlier on Centre Court, Ulrikke Eikeri and Makoto Ninomiya tookl the doubles title with an enthralling 6-4, 4-6, 11-9 triumph over No.4 seeds Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi.

In just their third tournament competing together, the Norwegian-Japanese combination trailed 4-7 and 7-9 in the high-quality match tie-break, before clinching their first title of the season at the very last.

“It’s a great way to finish the year,” said Eikeri. “We had a lot of close matches this week and we were able to fight really well. Today the margins were super close, we got a little bit of luck. We’re just super happy to get the trophy.”