Xinyu Gao stormed through the opening set, but Carol Young Suh Lee turned the final into a physical test and came through 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 to claim the 2026 Seixal Ladies Open crown.
Final Sunday in Corroios-Seixal opened with a surprise and ended with a comeback. Xinyu Gao burst through the first set of the 2026 Seixal Ladies Open final, taking it 6-1 with clean timing, early ball striking and the sharper opening rhythm.
But Carol Young Suh Lee stayed calm, kept stretching the rallies and slowly changed the physical shape of the match. As the final moved into longer exchanges and hotter legs, Lee became the stronger player, taking control of the second set and then pulling away in the third to win 1-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Gao’s fast start, Lee’s stronger finish
For one set, Gao looked ready to run away with the title. She dictated with confidence, served with clarity and made the court feel short. Lee, though, never allowed the match to become emotionally rushed. She reset, absorbed the first-set hit and began asking tougher physical questions in every rally.
Once Lee levelled the match at one set all, the momentum had clearly shifted. Gao had produced a very high-quality opening set, but Lee’s legs and consistency held up better across the full distance. That proved decisive in the closing stretch of the championship match.
A title for Lee, a strong week for Gao
The 6-2 scoreline in the third set captured the broader story: Gao had shown her ceiling early, but Lee carried the stronger finish and the deeper reserves. It was a composed response from the American, and one that earned her the singles title in convincing fashion after the opening setback.
Gao still leaves Corroios-Seixal with a very strong week behind her, including an excellent first set in the final and a run that fully deserved its place on championship Sunday.
Doubles champions and closing ceremony
The tournament had already crowned its doubles champions on Saturday, when Andre Lukosiute and Elyse Tse defeated Maria Garcia and Milana Ivantsiv 6-2, 7-5. Sunday then brought the final trophy presentation, with players, organisers, officials and volunteers all part of the closing ceremony on court.
The 2026 Seixal Ladies Open now closes with Carol Young Suh Lee as singles champion, Lukosiute and Tse as doubles champions, and another full week of international tennis successfully completed in Corroios-Seixal.