Guangzhou Open: Ann Li claims title over Lulu Sun as Claire Liu and Shuai Zhang headline breakthrough week

Ann Li closed out a statement week in Guangzhou on Sunday, October 26, 2025, defeating Lulu Sun 7–6(6), 6–2 to lift the WTA 250 trophy. The victory ends Li’s recent run of near-misses in finals and adds fresh momentum to her late-season surge. The Guangzhou draw also delivered major talking points from Claire Liu’s resurgence to Shuai Zhang’s inspired home run, turning the event into a showcase of shifting form lines ahead of the closing stretch of the season.

Ann Li vs. Lulu Sun: quality and composure in the final

In a tight first set, Ann Li’s depth off the backhand wing and measured first-serve placement blunted Lulu Sun’s first-strike patterns. Li erased a mini-surge from Sun late in the tiebreak, then accelerated in set two with quicker holds and improved return positioning. The American finished with the cleaner ratios on first-serve points won and unforced errors, while limiting Sun’s looks at second-serve returns in the decider. For Li, the title is both cathartic and consequential: it fortifies her ranking and reinforces a blueprint—disciplined patterns, patient defense-to-offense—that traveled well all week.

For Lulu Sun, the final caps another notable milestone in a breakout season that already includes a deep Grand Slam run and now a second tour-level final. The left-hander’s aggressive serve-forehand combination repeatedly carried her through pressure moments this week, and even in defeat she created windows with bold down-the-line changes. A continued refinement of second-serve protection and rally tolerance against elite counterpunchers looks like the next step as she targets a further rankings climb.

Claire Liu rediscovers traction in Guangzhou

Claire Liu’s campaign featured confident ball-striking and smart point construction, highlighted by a straight-sets surge into the semifinals. Liu’s improved return depth, especially against kick serves to the backhand, put her in scoring positions early in rallies. While she fell to Lulu Sun 6–0, 7–6(3) in the all-qualifier semifinal, Liu’s body of work in Guangzhou suggests she’s reestablishing week-to-week reliability. With indoor events and Asian swing points still in play, this performance strengthens her platform to finish the year inside a more favorable ranking band for 2026 entries.

Shuai Zhang thrills the home crowd and signals more to come

Shuai Zhang, energized by home support, pieced together a spirited run to the semifinals. Her court craft—selective net forays, disguised backhand redirects, and percentage serving—proved decisive in multiple long matches. The semifinal ended prematurely when a physical issue prompted her retirement against Ann Li, but the week still reads as a positive momentum marker. Healthy and confident, Zhang’s baseline clarity and match-management skills continue to translate, especially on medium-pace hard courts where her timing shines.

Key results and takeaways

• Final: Ann Li def. Lulu Sun 7–6(6), 6–2

• Semifinal 1: Lulu Sun def. Claire Liu 6–0, 7–6(3)

• Semifinal 2: Ann Li advanced over Shuai Zhang (ret.)

What it means for each player

• Ann Li: Converts pressure into points at the business end of events; the title boosts her ranking trajectory and confidence heading into the final tournaments of the calendar. Expect her to schedule selectively to maximize seeding opportunities.

• Lulu Sun: Consolidates a breakthrough year with another final; the performance should move her closer to direct entry at higher-tier events. The lefty patterns are tour-ready; incremental gains on second-serve resilience could unlock an even higher ceiling.

• Claire Liu: Semifinal run restores momentum after uneven stretches; improved aggressive returning is a durable, portable asset for upcoming hard-court stops.

• Shuai Zhang: A home-soil semifinal underscores form and fitness trending upward. If the retirement proves minor, her composure and variety remain a threat at late-season events.

Guangzhou Open sets the tone for the season’s closing act

The quartet of Ann Li, Lulu Sun, Claire Liu, and Shuai Zhang collectively reset narratives this week. Li’s trophy validates a tactical identity built on measured aggression. Sun continues to convert opportunity into ranking capital, signaling that her top-100 foothold is only the beginning. Liu’s semifinal provides a blueprint—early-stance returning and proactive court positioning—that can travel to indoor venues. Zhang’s home charge, meanwhile, suggests that experience and feel can still bend matches to her rhythm.

With rankings points tight and draws fluid in the coming weeks, Guangzhou’s outcomes will ripple across seedings and entry lists. If Sunday’s final is any indication, expect more high-grade, margin-thin contests among this group before the season closes.