China's Zheng Saisai captures 1st singles title at San Jose

Zheng Saisai of China used steady, looping groundstrokes and patience to capture her first career singles title, beating Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 6-3, 7-6 (3) in the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic on Sunday.

Saisai, who is ranked 55th and played one more match than Sabalenka to reach Sunday's championship, topped three seeded players on the way to her second career final and first victory at age 25. She was runner-up at Nanchang last year.

With her big topspin shots landing deep and the defensive ability to chase down balls all over the court, Zheng flustered opponents all week with her consistency and level-headed play — and the emotional Sabalenka was no different. She threw her racket after double-faulting on the first match point, slammed her racket to the court at one point and also hit it on the net in frustration in an afternoon of unforced errors after the 21-year-old missed on a fourth career title. The second-seeded Sabalenka, who lost in the first round of qualifying here in 2018, rode her powerful first serve to reach to her seventh final and is projected to match her career-high ranking of ninth.

Zheng Saisai, of China, hits a backhand to Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, during the finals of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic tennis tournament in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019. (AP PhotoTony Avelar)

Her power was neutralized by Zheng's regular topspin shots and digs to keep long rallies alive.

"I couldn't control my emotions. I was throwing my rackets," she said. "... Her game destroyed me because I couldn't use my power. I wasn't ready for that."

Zheng's victory could propel her to No. 38 — matching her career best — when Monday's new singles rankings are released.

Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, uses a bag of ice on her head to cool off as she talks to her coach during a break in the match against Zheng Saisai, of China, during the finals of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic tennis tournament in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019. (AP PhotoTony Avelar)

The two met once previously, with Zheng winning in straight sets on the ITF circuit in 2017. Each woman had played one three-set match this week.

Venus Williams lost her opening match Tuesday night after reaching last year's quarterfinals here. The 39-year-old, seven-time Grand Slam champion was in the field for the 15th time, this year as a wild-card entry.

In the doubles final, Kveta Peschke of the Czech Republic and American Nicole Melichar defeated Japanese tandem Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara 6-4, 6-4 earlier Sunday.

Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, reacts after winning a point against Zheng Saisai, of China, during the finals of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic tennis tournament in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019. (AP PhotoTony Avelar)

This marked the second year the event has been played at San Jose State University after moving from Stanford.

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Zheng Saisai, of China, serves the ball to Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, during the finals of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic tennis tournament in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019. (AP PhotoTony Avelar)

Zheng Saisai, of China, returns the ball to Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, during the finals of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic tennis tournament in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019. (AP PhotoTony Avelar)

Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, hits a backhand to Zheng Saisai, of China, during the finals of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic tennis tournament in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019. (AP PhotoTony Avelar)

Zheng Saisai, of China, serves the ball to Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, during the finals of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic tennis tournament in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019. (AP PhotoTony Avelar)

Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, reacts after losing the first set against Zheng Saisai, of China, during the finals of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic tennis tournament in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019. (AP PhotoTony Avelar)

CHICAGO (AP) — The Big Ten says it wants the NCAA to stop its investigations related to athlete tampering because the Power Four conference believes the rules “cannot be credibly or equitably enforced."

The Big Ten sent a letter to the NCAA this week that called for a pause in tampering investigations and infractions proceedings, according to ESPN, which reported late Wednesday that it had obtained the letter. In it, the conference pledged its support for "a modern framework for contact rules that addresses the varied challenges and opportunities of the current collegiate landscape.”

“The Big Ten is committed to quickly engaging in a deliberative process drawing on athletics administrators, compliance professionals, coaches, legal counsel, and other stakeholders from across the membership and will work to produce a comprehensive proposal," the letter reads. "We believe this collaborative, membership-driven approach is the best path to a durable solution and need the NCAA’s support in this effort.”

The Big Ten letter was sent after the NCAA football oversight committee recommended emergency legislation to protect the transfer portal window by issuing penalties for schools and coaches who circumvent the rules. Proposed last month, the legislation would become effective immediately if approved at the Division I cabinet meeting in April.

It also comes after Clemson coach Dabo Swinney accused Mississippi coach Pete Golding of tampering with transfer player Luke Ferrelli. Swinney said in January that he had forwarded evidence to the NCAA.

The Big Ten letter points out that the current tampering rules were implemented before a 2025 antitrust settlement cleared the way for schools to pay players through licensing deals. They also were drafted long before today's era of almost unlimited movement via the transfer portal.

“These rules were not designed for a world in which student-athletes are compensated market participants making annual decisions with significant economic consequences,” the letter reads. “The collision between the old rules and new reality is producing outcomes that harm the population that the rules were designed to protect.”

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FILE - The Big Ten logo is seen on the field at Husky Stadium during an NCAA college football game, Oct. 25, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)