WTA Tour: Timea Babos wins Taiwan Open


Timea Babos claimed her third career WTA title with a straight-sets victory over Kateryna Kozlova at the Taiwan Open.

The fourth-seeded Hungarian dropped serve in her opening game but immediately broke back before a double fault allowed Kozlova, in her first WTA final, to break again for a 3-2 lead.

Kozlova held to move 4-2 ahead but Babos then served out to love to start to take over and broke back before the Ukrainian sent a backhand wide to give the Hungarian the opening set 7-5.

The 24-year-old then used her experience to race through the second set and wrap up a 7-5 6-1 victory in an hour and 25 minutes.

"It was not easy, she played really well and really aggressive in the first set," Babos told reporters after the match. "But I stayed there, I got all the important moments, and I really fought hard.

"The first set, I think it was very difficult for me to start. I was a bit slower today than before. It's a final, somehow you have to manage a different kind of nerves."

Meanwhile, Petra Kvitova landed the St Petersburg Ladies' Trophy title with a comfortable victory over defending champion Kristina Mladenovic.

The Czech two-time Wimbledon champion saw off France's Mladenovic 6-1 6-2 in an hour and five minutes.

It made it 21 career WTA titles for Kvitova, who was appearing in a final for the first time since winning the Aegon Classic in June - a triumph which came just six months on from her sustaining career-threatening hand injuries when she was stabbed by an intruder at her home.

The 27-year-old's successful week in Russia was a return to form after she made a first-round exit at the Australian Open.

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