Winner Wang taking aim at top 20

After winning her first career WTA singles title and entering the world's top 50, 24-year-old Wang Yafan has set her sights on cracking the top 20.

Now ranked No 49, the unseeded Wang became the ninth Chinese female to win a WTA singles crown after beating fifth-seeded American Sofia Kenin 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the final of the Acapulco Open on Saturday night in the hardcourt event at The Princess Mundo Imperial.

"I'm thrilled to win and my next goal is to get into the world's top 20," said Wang. "I know that will be a tough task, but I'll try my best to achieve it.

"Becoming a top-50 player means I should strive to be more professional and self-disciplined. I want to set a great example for the younger players. I want to continue to show my positive side to the public."

Wang said she was nervous during Saturday's final－her first at a WTA event.

"It was a really tough win, as I expected, but I managed to adjust myself when I encountered the challenges," admitted the Nanjing-born player.

"I was very nervous when I started the match, but I calmed down eventually.

"This is the first time I played in a WTA final. During the third set, I got nervous again. I kept telling myself not to slow down and not chicken out. I made it at last."

Much of the credit for Wang's fast improvement goes to her new Spanish coach, Karim Perona, who formerly coached WTA Grand Slam winner Flavia Pennetta and ATP player Tommy Robredo.

"My coach has really helped me a lot, although sometimes he gets anxious when he watches me play," said Wang, who enlisted Perona's expertise after last October's Tianjin Open.

"During everyday training he has really high standards. The biggest help from him is that he has really improved my concentration."

Three other Chinese players are currently ranked in the WTA world's top 50: No 18 Wang Qiang, No 39 Zheng Saisai and No 40 Zhang Shuai.

Unseeded Zheng and Victoria Azarenka knocked off No 3 seeds Guiliana Olmos of Mexico and American Desirae Krawczyk, 6-1, 6-2, to win the doubles crown at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel on Saturday.

"I'm happy to partner with Azarenka and we cooperate so well," said Zheng. "The final was smooth and we acted positively.

"I learned a lot from Azarenka, who is truly a world-class player. The result is great. I entered the quarterfinal of the singles and won the doubles title. This is a great way to start a new season and I hope I can have better performances from now on."

Domestic fans have been waiting for years to welcome the next generation of Chinese tennis stars following the retirement of two-time Grand Slam winner and national icon Li Na in 2014.