Nao Hibino Downs Lee Eun-hye to Win Incheon Open
- Alastair Middleton
- Sep 28
- 3 min read
Top-seed Nao Hibino saw off a determined challenge from local hope Lee Eun-hye to claim a 7-5, 7-6 victory in the final of the ITF Incheon Open KMJ Art Gallery Cup (W100) in Korea on Sunday.
Lee came back from 1-4 down in the second set to force a tie-break but Hibino proved too strong at the last stretch, with the former world No. 56 claiming her first title since the Prague Open (WTA 250) in August 2023.
“It was a tough battle, especially second set she fought back from 1-4 down but I tried to make a positive attitude and I’m so happy to have closed it out in two sets,” Hibino told local broadcaster STN Sports after the final.
Hibino recorded straightforward victories over Australia’s Petra Hule and compatriot Eri Shimizu in the opening two rounds, before being taken to three sets by Korean number three Ku Yeon-woo in the quarters. She comfortably beat Sara Saito in the semifinals.
Unseeded Lee meanwhile didn’t drop a set on her way to the final. Not to be confused with the Olympic bronze medalist table tennis player with the same name, the 25-year-old Lee is poised to enter the top 300 for the first time off the back of her week’s work.
“She has good groundstrokes from the baseline,” Hibino said of Lee. “So I tried to stay strong and mix it up and use slices and speed balls to break her rhythm, and it worked today.”
Hibino, who was ranked at 200 in the WTA rankings at the start of the tournament, was pleased on both a professional and personal level to be back in the winner’s circle. “The last time I won a title was 2023 and my husband and I have been working together from this year, so this is our first title together so I’m super happy.” Her title win in Incheon puts her up to No. 165 in the world rankings.
The earlier doubles final was won 10-8 in a super tiebreak, with Korea’s Park So-hyun and Japan’s Saki Imamura defeating Hiroku Kuwata of Japan and Indonesia’s Priska Madelyn Nugroho.
Incheon, a sprawling city west of Seoul that is home to the country’s main international airport, hosted the Asian Games in 2014. The huge Yeorumul Tennis Centre, constructed for that event, is the venue for the tournament.
Somewhat bewilderingly, the glass railings in the stadiums, which were presumably designed and installed with the intention of ensuring unbroken sightlines, have never had their protective plastic film coverings removed, meaning that approximately 80% of seats on the centre and show courts have at least partially restricted views, and approximately 20% of seats, no view at all except for a square of glass covered in opaque plastic. The facility has been in use for twelve years now.
While it may not have attracted many spectators, the event did attract a title sponsor in the shape of Incheon’s KMJ Art Gallery, as well as a local broadcast partner in STN Sports.
Incheon was the final ITF tournament in Korea on the women’s side for 2025. There will be back-to-back M15 tournaments on the men’s side in the city of Gimcheon in late November.
Hibino really showed what separates experienced players from the rest — Lee’s comeback in the second set could have rattled anyone, but Hibino stayed calm, changed tempo, and closed the door when it mattered, which is the kind of composure that decides finals more than raw power; I was following the match highlights later and it reminded me how tennis momentum can swing instantly, and when I want to keep up with live scores I usually check them through bet365 because it updates point-by-point without delays that make you miss the crucial moments.
Hibino really earned that title — keeping her nerve after Lee’s comeback in the second set says a lot about her mentality, and seeing her climb back up the rankings is great for the WTA field. Matches like this always leave me buzzing to follow more tennis results and make predictions, especially during ITF and smaller tournaments where momentum swings matter even more. When I feel like keeping that competitive mindset going afterward, the Glory Casino app has been my go-to lately because it handles live tennis odds without freezing during tiebreaks and settles wagers pretty fast once the match finishes, so you don’t get stuck waiting forever to see whether your read was right.
A big congratulations to Nao Hibino on her impressive victory at the Incheon Open! Securing a straight-sets win (7-5, 7-6) against local favorite Lee Eun-hye—who mounted a strong comeback from 1-4 down in the second set—showcases Hibino’s exceptional mental resilience and tactical versatility. This triumph also carries special personal meaning, as it marks her first title achieved while collaborating with her husband as part of her coaching team. If you enjoy the thrill of competitive sports and want access to dynamic digital entertainment, you can visit the jb casino This platform provides a complete online gaming experience with a wide-ranging sportsbook for sports betting, along with numerous casino games and interactive entertainment options.
A huge congratulations to Nao Hibino for capturing the Incheon Open title! Her hard-fought straight-sets victory (7-5, 7-6) over local favorite Lee Eun-hye, who mounted an impressive comeback from 1-4 in the second set, showcased remarkable mental resilience and smart variation in play. This win is also personally significant for Hibino, marking her first title while collaborating with her husband as part of her team. For those drawn to the thrill and high stakes of international sports, the 1win offers a complete online gambling experience, including a full sportsbook for betting on a variety of sports, along with an extensive selection of casino games and digital entertainment options.