Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova secured her maiden WTA title on Sunday, defeating Danka Kovinic of Montenegro in straight sets to claim the Charleston clay court title in South Carolina.
The 15th-seeded Kudermetova dominated from the outset to claim a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Kovinic, ranked 91 in the world.
The 23-year-old from Kazan broke Kovinic in the seventh game of the second set for a 5-2 lead and then held comfortably to complete a win in 1hr 36min.
“I feel very happy, amazing,” Kudermetova said afterwards. “I had a lot of ups and downs and now I’m here with the trophy,” added the Russian, who did not drop a set all week in Charleston.
Sunday’s title marked Kudermetova’s second appearance in a final this season, losing the WTA Abu Dhabi against Aryna Sabalenka in January.
Kudermetova’s Charleston victory came after a tournament which saw nine of the top 10 seeds exit before the quarter-finals on Friday, while world number one Ashleigh Barty exited in the last eight.
World No 180 Osorio Serrano wins Bogota in 2021’s longest final
Colombian wildcard Maria Camila Osorio Serrano clinched her maiden WTA title in Bogota on Sunday, defeating Slovenian fifth seed Tamara Zidansek in the longest final of the season.
The 19-year-old former world junior No 1 won 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 in the two-hour, 48-minute championship match.
World No.180 Osorio Serrano becomes the lowest-ranked WTA champion since 299th-ranked Margarita Gasparyan won Tashkent in 2018.
With AFP Inputs
Buy an annual Scroll Membership to support independent journalism and get special benefits.
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!