Former world number one Maria Sharapova has won her first title since May 2015, beating Aryna Sabalenka 7-5 7-6 (10-8) in the Tianjin Open final.
The 30-year-old Russian was playing her seventh event since she returned to the tour in April from a 15-month drug ban.
She trailed 4-1 in both sets before overcoming the 19-year-old Belarusian, who was contesting her first WTA final, in two hours and five minutes.
It is the five-time Grand Slam winner's 36th WTA tournament victory.
Sharapova was denied a wildcard for the French Open, missed Wimbledon through injury and reached the US Open fourth round as a wildcard before losing to Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova.
The Russian, who began the week ranked 86th in the world, received a wildcard for the event in China.
She broke a nervous-looking Sabalenka in the opening game but then lost four games in succession as the teenager struck back with aggressive returns.
The Russian got back on serve at 4-3 after a 16-point game and then claimed the decisive break with a forehand winner down the line.
World number 101 Sabalenka surged into a 5-1 advantage in the second set with some more fiercely struck returns before Sharapova responded with five consecutive games to serve for the match at 6-5.
But she was unable to complete victory and a double fault sent the set into a tie-break, which saw the players drop four successive points on serve.
Sabalenka survived three match points but a double fault gave Sharapova a fourth chance and she duly recorded her first title since the Italian Open two years and five months ago.
The result means Sharapova moves up to number 57 in the world rankings.
Latest Stories
-
Agogo Presby Hospital celebrates staff over zero maternal death record
2 mins -
Ghana isn’t broke to procure high and low-voltage poles – Energy Minister
3 mins -
Appiatse residents handed keys to newly constructed homes
11 mins -
Dreams FC trainer Karim Zito sets sights on defending MTN FA Cup
15 mins -
Dumsor: Mahama the only President to superintended ‘dum dum’ for 4 years – Opoku Prempeh
25 mins -
Burnley sign partnership deal with fan-backed scouting platform Nordensa
48 mins -
Akesse Brempong, MOG Music, Afronita, Dope Nation to perform at Nsoromma Season 6 Grand Finale
52 mins -
Hopeson Adorye to form ‘Jail Them’ advocacy group
2 hours -
Shatta Wale once cried and knelt to apologise to Mahama – Dr Lawrence Tetteh
2 hours -
Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson turned away from polling station after forgetting photo ID
2 hours -
Nigeria soldiers face trial for deadly air strike ‘mistake’
2 hours -
Akufo-Addo, Otumfuo to commission Kumasi International Airport on May 10
2 hours -
PWDs who gain admission into tertiary institutions will be prioritised with government scholarships – Bawumia
2 hours -
Strongman regrets involving Fella Makafui in Medikal feud
2 hours -
NPP must unite now or perish later – Ameyaw-Akumfi warns
2 hours