On February 12, Beijing time, the 2023 WTA500 Abu Dhabi women's doubles final, China's Jinhua Zhang Shuai ushered in the first women's doubles final of this year, Zhang Shuai/Stephanie against Shuko Aoyama/Zhan Haoqing. Zhang Shuai/Stephanie played three sets and finally defeated Shuko Aoyama/Zhan Haoqing 2-1 on aggregate to win the women's doubles title. Zhang Shuai won his first doubles title so far this season, his 13th career doubles title, and his fifth WTA 500 doubles title.
Zhang Shuai is currently ranked 23rd in the world in women's singles, she is the highest-ranked player in China's Golden Flowers, and Zhang Shuai also needs to juggle doubles, which is undoubtedly a great test for her. In Abu Dhabi, Zhang Shuai partnered Stephanie in the women's doubles match, defeating No. 2 seeds Danilina/Kichelok 6-7(4)/6-3/10-5 in the first round, then eliminated Philip Kens/Sigmund 6-4/6-4 to advance to the women's doubles semifinals, and eliminated Kato Weiwei/Niculescu 7-5/6-3 in the semifinals to advance to the final.
Zhang Shuai advanced to the women's doubles final in Abu Dhabi, her second doubles final since Wimbledon last year. Zhang Shuai/Stephanie faced Shuko Aoyama/Zhan Haoqing in the final, Zhang Shuai/Stephanie were slow to enter the first set, they lost four consecutive sets and were broken serve twice to fall 4-0. Zhang Shuai/Stephanie broke serve in the 5th game, but Shuko Aoyama/Zhan Haoqing immediately broke back, Zhang Shuai/Stephanie broke the belt to chase 3-5 down, and then Shuko Aoyama/Zhan Haoqing won the set with serve, and Zhang Shuai/Stephanie lost a set 3-6.
Entering the second set, Zhang Shuai/Stephanie broke the tie to take a 2-0 lead, including a four-point break in the first game to easily win. Shuko Aoyama/Zhan Haoqing broke the tie to tie 2-2, and Zhang Shuai/Stephanie then won four consecutive games, including straight four points in the fifth and seventh games, to win the set 6-2.
When it came to entering the top 10 battle, Zhang Shuai/Stephanie scored five consecutive points to win 6-4 when they were 1-4 behind. The two sides then locked in a battle, with Zhang Shuai/Stephanie winning 10-8 to win the women's doubles title by averaging Shuko Aoyama/Zhan Haoqing 2-1 on aggregate.
(Text/Drunken Lying Float)