American tennis star Coco Gauff couldn’t help but celebrate fellow American Ann Li’s monumental victory at the Guangzhou WTA 250 event, marking Li’s first WTA title in four long years. But here’s where it gets emotional: after a string of three consecutive final losses, Li’s triumph feels like a hard-fought redemption story that’s impossible not to cheer for. On Sunday, the 25-year-old, currently ranked No. 44 in the world, outlasted Lulu Sun in a nail-biting 7-6 (6) 6-2 win, securing her second career WTA title. This victory was especially sweet, coming after her 2021 Tenerife win and a series of near-misses in Merida, Singapore, and Cleveland.
In her Instagram post, Li reflected on the win with a mix of relief and gratitude: ‘A 2nd WTA title in the books. Third time’s a charm this year, I guess. Thank you to the team @carlos_boluda @silvanaaramoss @jlhdezdavo—grateful to have you guys by my side. Thank you for the support here in China, one more to go.’ Gauff, ever the supportive teammate, chimed in with a simple yet heartfelt ‘Congrats’ in the comments, showcasing the camaraderie among American tennis stars.
And this is the part most people miss: the match could have swung dramatically in Sun’s favor. In the first set, Li squandered two set points in the 10th game and two more in the 12th, while Sun raced to a 3-0 lead in the tie-break. But Li’s resilience paid off, and once she clinched the tight first set, she dominated the second, breaking Sun three times to seal the win.
Yet, there’s no time for Li to bask in her glory. She’s already in Jiujiang, gearing up for her first-round match against Bai Zhuoxuan. But here’s the controversial question: with Li’s history of final losses, does this victory signal a new era of consistency, or was it a one-off triumph? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—is Ann Li back for good, or is the road ahead still uncertain?
