China's Shi/Zhang claim women's doubles title at WTT Star Contender London

LONDON -- China's Shi Xunyao and Zhang Xiangyu captured the women's doubles crown at the WTT Star Contender London on Friday, defeating compatriots Qin Yuxuan and Zong Geman in straight games in the final.

In their first tournament as partners, Shi and Zhang produced a composed and confident performance to triumph 11-5, 11-5, 11-9. Both players credited their mental resilience and tactical execution as decisive factors in overcoming their familiar opponents.

"This was a match between teammates, so it was more about psychological adjustment and tactical play," Shi said after the victory. "I think we handled both aspects quite well."

The pair only began playing together after arriving in London, entering the event from the qualifying rounds without high expectations. "It wasn't easy to fight all the way from qualification to the final," Shi said. "But our communication and cooperation improved with every match."

Zhang added that they stayed focused on each round rather than thinking about the title. "It was our first time partnering, so we just fought match by match," she said.

In the second game, the duo rallied from 5-2 down to score nine consecutive points, turning the tide decisively. "We didn't even realize we had won nine points in a row," Shi said with a smile. "We just focused on every point, reduced unnecessary errors, and played more sensibly."