China win Asia Cup women's title

China crushed Thailand 2-0 to win the inaugural Asia Cup women's tennis title in Delhi on Saturday.

Led by Li Ting and Li Na, China, who came to the Delhi tournament with a full-fledged Federation Cup team, maintained their unbeaten run to claim the $20,000 prize in the three-nation championship.

Thailand, who were without the services of Asian star Tamarine Tanasugarn who is busy in Australia preparing for the upcoming Hopman Cup, gave a spirited fight but the Chinese women never allowed themselves to be dictated.

Li Ting and Napaporn Tongsalee played an exciting match which saw 12 service breaks in two sets before the Chinese won 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 44 minutes.

Ting dropped her serve in the opening game of the first set allowing Tongsalee to take 2-0 lead. Ting used her passing winners to win a break back for 2-2. The two again traded breaks in the fifth and sixth games for 3-3.

The see-saw battle looked heading for a long day as Ting took eighth for 5-3 and Tongsalee retaliated in the next (5-4). The Chinese number two then came up with good placements to seal the first set 6-4.

The second also started on the same note with Tongsalee breaking Ting in the first game. There were four more breaks before Ting finally grabbed the opportunity for 6-4, 6-4 win.

The Chinese comitted a total of nine double-faults while the Thai girl made seven but ended up on the losing side.

Chinese top seed Li Na then made a short work of Suchanan Viratprasert 6-2, 6-0 to give her country a deserving win.