Poland's Iga Świątek lifted her sixth WTA 1000 title with victory in the China Open in Beijing, but announced her withdrawal from the Billie Jean King Cup next month ©Getty Images

Poland’s world number two Iga Świątek made a winning debut at the China Open in Beijing as she defeated Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova in straight sets in the final to lift the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 title.

The tournament was the biggest to have taken place in China since the WTA lifted a ban imposed after Peng Shuai disappeared from public view in November 2021 following her accusation of sexual assault against the country's former vice premier Zhang Gaoli, leading to international condemnation.

Świątek swept aside Samsonova, the world number 22, playing under a neutral banner at the National Tennis Center because of her country’s invasion of Ukraine. 6-2, 6-2 to win a tour-leading fifth title of the season.

The victory meant that Świątek becomes the first player since Serena Williams to win five or more titles in back-to-back seasons, with the American doing so in 2014 and 2015.

Beijing is Świątek's 16th career title, having already won in 2023 at Roland Garros, Doha, Stuttgart and Warsaw.

The 22-year-old lost just one set in the tournament.

It is also Świątek's sixth WTA 1000 title, making her the only player to win six or more WTA 1000 titles before the age of 23, eclipsing Caroline Wozniacki’s five.

Poland's Iga Świątek, top, dominated Russia's Liudmila Samsonova 6-2, 6-2 after her rival had enjoyed a memorable run to the final ©Getty Images
Poland's Iga Świątek, top, dominated Russia's Liudmila Samsonova 6-2, 6-2 after her rival had enjoyed a memorable run to the final ©Getty Images

Samsonova had booked a spot in her second WTA 1000 final of the season by defeating Kazakhstan’s world number five Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals having also beaten Jelena Ostapenko, Petra Kvitova, and Marta Kostyuk during the tournament.

Her run in Beijing will ensure a return to the top 20 when the new rankings are published tomorrow.

Świątek was full of confidence having beaten the US Open champion Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-3 in yesterday’s semi-final to end her American rival’s 16-match unbeaten streak.

That momentum helped Świątek to victory against an opponent who seemed to run out of steam after her exhausting run to the final.

Following her victory over Gauff, Świątek announced that she would not compete for her country at the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup in Seville next month to risk avoiding burnout.

Świątek's last tournament of the season is set to be the WTA Finals, due to be played from October 29 to November 5 in Cancún in Mexico.

America's US Open champion Coco Gauff suffered her first defeat for 16 matches when she was beaten by Poland's Iga Świątek in the semi-final of the China Open yesterday ©Getty Images
America's US Open champion Coco Gauff suffered her first defeat for 16 matches when she was beaten by Poland's Iga Świątek in the semi-final of the China Open yesterday ©Getty Images

"I'm already feeling the hardships of this season and I can't imagine playing two tournaments just two days apart and at the same time having to deal with the consequences of a six-hour jet lag and another long trip after playing almost 70 matches this season," Świątek said in a statement.

"The fact that I can now play in good health for a long time shows that, despite logistical difficulties and an intense calendar, my team and I are making the right decisions.

"It's a marathon, not a sprint."

Świątek warned that the international calendar is too intense.

"I'm sorry that Polish fans are harmed, but health must be my priority," she said.

"I don't know whether my decision will motivate the Federation to change and enable me to play for the national team in the future without exposing my health to the risk of injury."