Marketa Vondrousova
Marketa Vondrousova

Ladies Open Biel Bienne: First title for Vondrousova


Teenage qualifier Marketa Vondrousova completed a dream week by winning her first WTA Tour title at the Ladies Open Biel Bienne in Switzerland.

The 17-year-old Czech, playing in just her second main tour event, did not drop a set in five main-draw matches and clinched the title with a 6-4 7-6 (8/6) victory over Anett Kontaveit.

Both were surprise finalists in a season of huge unpredictability on the WTA Tour, with Vondrousova ranked down at 233 and Estonian Kontaveit 99.

Vondrousova, who knocked out top seed Barbora Strycova in the semi-finals, did not have things all her own way, with her serve often under pressure.

But she saved 13 of the 14 break points she faced before proving just the stronger in the second-set tie-break.

At the Claro Open Colsanitas in Bogota it was a player at the opposite end of the experience spectrum to Vondrousova who triumphed.

The 36-year-old Italian Francesca Schiavone sealed a 6-4 7-5 victory over Spanish fourth seed Lara Arruabarrena.

The 2010 French Open winner, playing as a wildcard after dropping to 168th in the world, is playing her final season on the WTA Tour and an eighth career title improves her chances of qualifying for a final visit to Roland Garros.

"I'm very happy and emotional," she said in quotes reported on wtatennis.com. "Today was a disaster match, but winning was the most important thing.

"Lara is improving a lot; I think she pulled a muscle and couldn't run as well that she could, but I thank God that I could win the last three games.

"In this moment I have memories of my championship in Roland Garros.

"I have always had very good performances on clay. It was too long since I won a title and I am very pleased to win again.

"It was a very good tournament for me here in Bogota. I felt very excited to be playing my game."

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