Mary Pierce won two matches on
Saturday to capture her first career grasscourt title at the Ordina Open.
Pierce topped Czech Klara Koukalova 7-6 (8/6) 6-2 in the final after
completing a 6-2 6-2 rain-interrupted semi-final win over eighth-seeded Russian
Lina Krasnoroutskaya.
The match was stopped Friday with the first set tied at 2-2.
The third-seeded Frenchwoman showed no fatigue in the final, jumping out to a
5-0 lead. Koukalova took the next five games and held a 5-1 lead in the
tiebreaker.
But Pierce won seven of the next eight points and claimed the second set
easily to notch her 16th career title in 88 minutes.
"I've been very focused and concentrated this week, even with the rain," she
said.
"It's been a great opportunity for me since the number one (Nadia Petrova)
and number two (Patty Schnyder) seeds went out early."
The tournament victory is Pierce's first since winning the 2000 French Open.
"I'm very proud of myself," said the 29-year-old. "It's been awhile since I
won another tournament."
Pierce, who takes on Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain in the first round of
Wimbledon next week, had previously appeared in only one semi-final on grass in
her career.
"I enjoy the grass more and more, as I used to not like it very much," she
said.
"But I feel more comfortable on it and it fits my game, especially since I
know what to do now and how to play on it."
Koukalova fell to 0-4 lifetime in WTA Tour finals. This was the first time she
took part in the main draw event on grass.
"It was a great tournament but, of course, I'm a little bit sad right now,"
Koukalova said.
"I had points to win the first set, but she started playing better and was
hard to beat."
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