USA’s Sofia Kenin has claimed the second WTA title of her career after a 6-7(2), 7-6(5), 6-4 win over Belinda Bencic. She adds to her title won in Hobart at the start of the year.

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Bencic had three championship points at 5-4, but all three went begging, the third squandered with a double fault. Kenin then fired a forehand passing winner to reach break point, and after another backhand winner by the American, it was 5-5 and the American had escaped.

Kenin had 48 winners to 38 unforced errors during the final, and converted four of her nine break points, winning over half of the points when facing a Bencic second serve. Bencic had 28 winners to 26 unforced errors; half of those unforced errors were her 13 double faults.

“I’m playing really well, fighting for every point and taking as much advantage as I can,” Kenin stated. “This really is great, and I’m just so happy with how I’m playing.”

Former Australian Johanna Konta has defeated former Croatian and now Australian Ajla Tomljanovic in the Rabat semifinals.

Konta now playing under the Great Britain flag took the match 6-2, 7-6(7). The Brit dominated the first set breaking Tomljanovic three times to one.

It was Konta that broke in the first game and then backed up that with a love game. Tomljanovic got on the scoreboard as she held for 1-2.

Another hold and another break for Konta and she was out to a 4-1 lead.

Towards the end of the first set, Tomljanovic’ coach told her to activate her legs more. The Australian seemed to lift and she broke back to be serving at 2-4.

That was short lived as the Australian was broken again before Konta sealed the set.

In the second set it was a lot tighter. Both players had one break opportunity, but failed to convert.

Konta had a break point at 30-40 in the third game, Tomljanovic had one at 30-40 in the sixth game.

The second set went to a tie-breaker and it was Konta that looked in control at 4-1 but some good hustle from the Australian kept her in the next point before forcing an error from the Brit.

Konta was sent scurrying across the baseline after Tomljanovic blasted a backhand deep, it resulted in a shot hit wide to get things back on track for Tomljanovic at 3-4.

A double fault by the Australian saw Konta two point from the final at 5-3, but after the Australian won the next point for 5-4, Konta was serving the next two points.

Tomljanovic played a good point to level at 5-5 and then a double fault from Konta gave the Australian a set point.

Konta had a swing at a second serve and had Tomljanovic on the run before stepping in to hit a backhand winner to deny her opponent the set.

At 6-6 Tomljanovic, just missed serving an Ace. Konta took advantage and attacked the second serve that followed before forcing an error from her opponent.

It was now match point for Konta at 7-6. Tomljanovic kept the ball in play and it was Konta that hit an unforced error into the net.

On the next point a bad shot from Tomljanovic where she hit into the net set up another match point. A backhand into the net from Tomljanovic and the match was over.

Konta advanced to her first clay court final on the WTA tour. For Tomljanovic she missed the opportunity to again play the final in Rabat.

In the other semifinal, it was Greece’s Maria Sakkari that defeated Belgium’s Alison Van Uytvanck 6-4, 6-4.

Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic reached the final in Rabat in 2018 losing to Elise Mertens.

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Photo: Ajla Tomljanovic (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

The world no. 43 is again one step away from the final after defeating Sweden’s world no. 62 Rebecca Peterson 6-2, 6-4.

Britain’s Johanna Konta stands in the way of another finals appearance for the Australian after she defeated the no. 2 seed Hsieh Su-Wei 6-7(1), 6-4, 6-4.

Mertens has failed to defend her title after losing 6-4, 7-6(2) to Greece’s Maria Sakkari.

Sakkari faces Belgium’s Alison Van Uytvanck in the other semifinal.

In the match against Peterson, Tomljanovic was in control during the first set, breaking her opponent twice while not being broken herself.

The second set was drastically different. Both players struggled to hold serve. Tomljanovic would get a break, only to be broken.

Tomljanovic did however finally manage to hold serve after breaking Peterson for the fourth time in the second set. Peterson had broken her Australian opponent three times.

USA’s Amanda Anisimova had denied Australia’s Astra Sharma a fairytale ending in Bogota. Anisimova claimed her first WTA title by defeating Sharma 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Sharma had gone to Bogota with just one main draw victory in her career, that coming at the 2019 Australian Open. She had just yesterday won the doubles title with Zoe Hives.

In the singles final against 17-year-old world no. 76 it was Sharma that got a break in the opening game. The first break point coming when Anisimova reached for a forehand that she then hit long for 30-40. A forehand winner sealed the game.

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Photo: Amanda Anisimova (right) of the United States and Astra Sharma of Australia with the trophies during day 7 of the WTA Claro Open Colsanitas 2019 at El Carmel Club on April 14 2019 in Bogota Colombia. (Photo by Luis Ramirez/Vizzor Image/Getty Images)

An instant break back was on the cards when Anisimova hit with power to force an error from Sharma to earn three break points. A forehand sent long by Sharma conceded the break to level the score at 1-1.

Both players were having trouble finding their range, but Sharma did sweetly time a forehand return to hit deep and force an error from Anisimova to again earn break points at 15-40. Another error from the American when she hit into the net gave Sharma a second break.

Anisimova had a chance to break back immediately, and she did with a forehand winner to make it four games in a row without a service hold.

After seeing Anisimova hit long, Sharma had a chance to break for the third straight game. A double fault from the young American handed the game to Sharma.

Sharma hit her first Ace of the match to go to 30-0 in the sixth game. That was followed up by a double-fault. A good wide serve setup a short ball for Sharma to hit away for a 40-15 score. A Sharma shot sent well long after some good hitting from Anisimova saw the score at 40-30 but another good first serve saw someone finally hold serve. Sharma was now up 4-2.

In the next service game, Anisimova was finally able to hold serve.  Sharma would go from 40-15 to facing a break point in the next service game. With the American hitting with more authority, she forced an error from her opponent to get back on serve.

As we had seen many times in the first set, Anisimova was again broken after several errors despite fighting back from 0-40 to deuce. A backhand sent wide conceded the game to allow Sharma to serve at 5-4.

An Ace and two forehand winners helped the Australian hold serve to love and take the first set 6-4.

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Photo: Amanda Anisimova of the United States returns the ball against Astra Sharma of Australia during day 7 of the WTA Claro Open Colsanitas 2019 at El Carmel Club on April 14 2019 in Bogota Colombia. (Photo by Luis Ramirez/Vizzor Image/Getty Images)

During this week, Anisimova had twice lost the opening set 6-4 before fighting back to win the next two sets. She did that in the opening round against Sabine Lisicki and in the semifinal against Beatriz Haddad Maia, she would have to pull that off for a third time to earn her first WTA title.

Things got off to the worst possible start in the second set for Anisimova when she was again broken. Some loose shots contributing to the break.

Sharma served her fourth Ace of the match to move to 40-30, another Ace gave her the game for 2-0. The title was looking likely to be claimed by the Australian.

The Australian missed an easy shot at 30-0 to the American. She followed up with two great points to move to 40-30, before hitting long to see the American get a crucial hold. Things may have been different if she landed the shot in court at 30-0.

Anisimova’s coach Jamie Cortés gave her some advice before Sharma came out to serve at 2-1. He said as the match progresses you will get more feeling and keep improving, he also said you will break several times.

A drop shot from Anisimova helped her win the opening point, then a shot into the net from Sharma saw the American at 0-30. A double fault saw Sharma suddenly facing three break points. Sharma would save one, but then she hit just wide to concede the game.

Anisimova was again under pressure on serve as she was twice taken to deuce before badly missing a shot that hit the back fence to go down a break point. She answered with a big forehand that forced an error from Sharma. Anisimova was swinging freely to pressure Sharma and she missed another shot for Ad to the American.

Sharma found the line and then Anisimova hit long for deuce, another missed shot and again Sharma had a break point. She got the break as Anisimova hit into the net.

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Photo: Astra Sharma of Australia prepares to serves to Amanda Anisimova of the United States during day 7 of the WTA Claro Open Colsanitas 2019 at El Carmel Club oon April 14 2019 in Bogota Colombia. (Photo by Luis Ramirez/Vizzor Image/Getty Images)

The Australian was now ready to serve at 3-2. At 30-15 she served her fifth double fault, then her sixth to face a break point at 30-40. A tired-looking shot went wide from Sharma and Anisimova was back on level terms at 3-3.

Perhaps the heavy workload was starting to affect Sharma, she had played doubles as well, winning the title.

Anisimova, on the other hand, had a spring in her step and she finally won a service game easily to lead 4-3.

Sharma opened the eighth game with a double fault.  The next point saw the American racing all over the court to stay in the point, she finally stepped into court to cut off a Sharma volley and hit it into an open court for 0-30. Back-to-back shots into the net from Anisimova got the Australian back to 30-30. Another netted shot from Anisimova, then a shot over the baseline and Sharma was able to hold to tie the set at 4-4.

Sharma turned defence into an attack to win the opening point of the ninth game. Anisimova answered with a big winner. Sharma was equal to the task, blasting a return to force an error for 15-30. A good first serve saw Anisimova get to 30-30 before badly missing a backhand to face a break point.

If Sharma could convert she would be serving for her first WTA title. Sharma hit the return wide, the Anisimova attacked on the next point to move to Ad. Sharma hit the next return into the net to see the American escape and move to 5-4.

At 15-15 some big hitting had Sharma on the run and she missed a shot to fall to 15-30. Anisimova then hit a backhand that skipped through onto the line to give her two break points. It took just one as Sharma hit a midcourt shot over the baseline.

Anisimova opened the deciding set and held serve to lead 1-0. In the next game Sharma again served a double fault to face a break point. A shot into the net and it was Anisimova that was out to a 2-0 lead.

Sharma was handed two break back points after Anisimova sent a shot over the baseline. Sharma wasted them both when she hit back-to-back shots into the net. Anissimova was at Ad after Sharma hit long.

Anisimova survived from 15-40 down to take the game after a good first serve had Sharma reached for the ball, she sent it sailing wide.

The pressure was on Sharma to mount a comeback from 3-0. The Australian was down a break point at 30-40, the American hit the return over the baseline, then another shot went long to give Sharma Ad. A missed shot from Sharma had the score at deuce before an Ace gave her game point. A bad miss saw her hit into the net for another deuce.

A shot that went wide from Anisimova gave Sharma another Ad but she again hit into the net to fail to close out the game. A stunning winner got the Australian another game point which she finally converted to get on the scoreboard in the deciding set.

Anisimova had a love service game to move another step closer to the title.

Sharma was at 40-15 in the sixth game but failed to hold after Anisimova hit a winner for 40-30. A backhand winner got her to deuce. A double fault from Sharma saw her suddenly facing a break point. Anisimova hit long to keep Sharma in the game.

Sharma decided to hit a slice approach but it was an easy shot for Anisimova to hit the pass. When Sharma hit into the net Anisimova was on the brink of her first title with a double break and serving for the championship.

She would hold two match points at 40-15 but hit long on the first. On the second match point a good first serve sent Sharma wide. Anisimova played a drop shot which Sharma reached and also hit a drop shot. Eventually, Anisimova would find the open court to claim her first WTA title. The final score was 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

With a fist pump as she looked across at her coach the Bogota title was hers.

“It was an incredible atmosphere,” said Sharma. “It was my first time playing in a final like this and just such a memorable experience.

“I’d like to thank everybody back home – my coaches, my family and my friends, who have been sending me all these messages of love and support. It has been an unreal experience.”

It was not the highest quality match, but Anisimova is still champion. The winners were 19 to the American and 17 for the Australian. The unforced errors overshadowed winners with 34 for Anisimova and 36 from Sharma. What hurt Sharma was 11 double faults.

It was a great week for both players. Sharma announced herself as she went all the way to the final and Anisimova claimed what will most likely be the first of many WTA titles.

Sharma now sits at her career high of no. 102 on the rankings while Anisimova jumped to a career-high no. 54. She is the highest ranked 17-year-old.

 

Australia’s Astra Sharma has continued her dream run in Bogota to advance to her first ever WTA tour final. Sharma defeated the 2012 champion and runner-up for the past two years, Spain’s world no. 106 Lara Arruabarrena. The final score was 7-5, 6-1.

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Photo: Australian Astra Sharma has reached her first WTA final. (Photo by Vizzor Image/Getty Images)

Sharma came out on the court in Adidas gear after previously wearing Nike. Not sure if that is a new deal after he excellent showing in Bogota. She also was wearing a Vanderbilt tracksuit top, showing where she studied medicine and had a stellar college tennis career. After seeing her still wearing a Nike hat it appears unlikely she is sponsored. Someone should make a move to sign her up.

Going into the match you would have favoured the Spaniard as she seems to lift for her time in Bogota. She had not won a main-draw singles match since the 2018 US Open, but had reached the final in Bogota in 2017-18 and had put together a run of three matches at this tournament.

Sharma could not be easily written off. She has played at a high level. He serving has been excellent and she moves well around the clay courts and hits with power.

The Australian world no. 138 opened the serving. She lost the first point but then an out shot from Arruabarrena was followed by two Aces by Sharma. A double-fault then Sharma hit long to see the opening game at deuce.

Another big first serve helped Sharma take the next point, then Arruabarrena hit long to give Sharma the first game. Arruabarrena then held to love.

In the ninth game, Sharma was up 40-15 but then a missed drop shot followed to two over hit shots gave Arruabarrena a break point. Arruabarrena was handed the break after Sharma blasted a forehand well wide.

After looking so comfortable on serve, Sharma now found herself having to break Arruabarrena to stay in the first set. Sharma called on some words of advice from her coach for the week Louise Pleming.

Pleming suggested returning serve straight at Arruabarrena’s body, saying she is not that comfortable in that area. Pleming was also confident Sharma would break as she had gone close before. The coach also suggested some sliced serves out wide if Arruabarrena was standing deep.

Arruabarrena caught Sharma moving to the centre of the court on a second serve and served wide. Sharma missed the return. Arruabarrena then hit into the net, followed by a double fault to give Sharma a look at 15-30. Arruabarrena then hit a winner to level the scores.

Sharma just missed the sideline in the next rally to give Arruabarrena set point but her second double fault of the game saw that gone. Arruabarrena then hit wide and now Sharma held a break back point. A shot long from Sharma saw her waste that opportunity.

The Australian had a big swing at a second serve, only to see that shot sail well over the baseline. Both players were finding it hard to keep the ball in play. Sharma fired back a return that Arruabarrena could not handle, hitting into the net.

Arruabarrena was gifting Sharma points, serving her third double fault, then conceding the game with a shot over the baseline.

Some huge first serves helped Sharma take the next game to see her at 6-5. She served and volleyed the final point.

The pressure was now on Arruabarrena to stay in the set after she failed to close it out on her previous service game.

The Spaniard jumped out to 30-0 love but then hit a shot long for 30-15. Sharma returned the favour, hitting long to take Arruabarrena to one point from a tie breaker. Arruabarrena hit a shot into the net to keep Sharma in the game.

Sharma was hitting with depth and Arruabarrena made an unforced error hitting long. Another Sharma error and it was Ad, but then Arruabarrena missed long for deuce.

The Australian then got a lucky net cord that saw her have a look at a break point. The Spaniard conceded the first set with a double fault, her fourth.

In the opening game of the second set, Sharma kept the pressure on Arruabarrena with a good service hold. Arruabarrena held serve for 1-1, but then Sharma won the next five games to earn a spot in her first WTA final.

Sharma served out in style dropping just one point. She pumped her fist as she saw her winner zip past Arruabarrena.

Sharma faces USA’s Amanda Anisimova the world no. 76 who defeated world no. 165 from Brazil Beatriz Haddad Maia 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2. Her live ranking is now no. 101. A title win and she will jump to around no. 86.

After her singles match, Sharma backed up to win the doubles title with Zoe Hives, also from Australia.

Australia’s Astra Sharma faced 2012 French Open finalist Sara Errani in the quarterfinals in Bogota. Errani has struggled with her serve this week and has been serving underarm just to get into points.

For Sharma, this was the biggest match of her WTA career. Coming into this week she had only won one match beyond the ITF tour. That came at the 2019 Australian Open.

With Errani just not able to get serves into play she again had to employ an underarm serve. Sharma crushed the Italian in the first set, winning 6-1. Errani served at 38% to 61%. Sharma was, on the other hand, serving well, sending down five Aces.

Despite Errani’s woeful serving, when she got the ball in play she was hitting with great power. Sharma broke in the second game to lead 2-1. The concern for the Australian was the number of errors she was making.

Errani’s comeback

Errani was able to break Sharma for the first time in the match in the fourth game. Now she was in the battle.

In the fifth game, Errani was using underarm serves and Sharma was struggling. Errani won the game after Sharma hit into the net off a weak underarm serve.

In the next game, Sharma found herself down 0-30 before hitting three straight winners to get things back on track. Errani had another look at a break point when she got Ad. Sharma would hold for 3-3.

Sharma was struggling against underarm serves, often overplaying a shot. Errani was holding serve until the ninth game. Astra got the break to have the opportunity to serve for the match at 5-4. The break coming from a brilliant volley.

The Australian won the first point of the tenth game but then Errani fired back a good return that Sharma hit long. Sharma was almost there as she moved to 30-15 but then a badly missed backhand gave Errani some hope as it was 30-30.

An Errani drop shot got Sharma into the net and the Italian then hit a winner to have a break point. A big forehand helped Sharma save the first, but a shot into the net from Sharma presented another opportunity.

Sharma stepped around a forehand but hit wide to keep Errani alive in the match.

With Errani now exclusively serving underarm, she won the first point. Sharma jumped all over the next serve to go to 15-15, then a double fault had Sharma edge ahead. The Australian was not getting accustomed to the underarm serves and was finding her range on the returns to pressure Errani.

Now with a second opportunity to serve for the match and advance to her first WTA level semifinal Sharma started well by landing two big first serves and jumping out to 30-0. Another first serve in play and then a lucky net cord for Sharma gave her three match points.

It took just one, this time off the second serve that kicked and took Errani wide. A short return was gratefully accepted and Sharma hit a short ball into the open court for the winner. She raised her arms in victory taking the match 6-1, 7-5

When you look at the stats Errani did well to push Sharma as she did.

Sharma hit 32 winners to four from Errani. It was 7-0 in the Aces column and Sharma converted five from seven break points to two from nine for Errani.

What kept Errani in the match was 35 unforced errors from Sharma, to 15 from the Italian. Sharma will need to reduce her unforced errors if she is to make it into the final. Her next match should be more conventional.

After starting the year at no. 231, Sharma is closing in on the top-100. Her quarterfinal win pushes her up to no. 113 on the live rankings. Another win and she will sit at no. 101.

Sharma will play world no. 106 from Spain Lara Arruabarrena. The Spaniard had earlier defeated world no. 67 from Slovenia Tamara Zidansek 6-4, 6-2. Arruabarrena was champion in Bogota back in February 2012 and was runner-up in 2017 and last year.

Sharma has also reached the doubles semifinal with fellow Australian Zoe Hives.

In just her sixth tour-level appearance, Australia’s Astra Sharma has pulled off her third straight tour-level win to advance to the quarterfinals in Bogota. The world no. 138 defeated world no. 85 and no 8 seed Magda Linette from Poland 6-4, 6-3.

The Australian has previously just won a single match on the WTA tour or in Grand Slams, that came at the 2019 Australian Open when she defeated fellow Australian Priscilla Hon in round one after earning a main draw spot through qualifying.

Sharma is perhaps the accidental tennis pro after having gone to Vanderbilt University to study for a medical degree, but she chose Vanderbilt for a reason. She chose Vanderbilt for the ability to “go to an amazing school, and play top-level tennis”.

The Australian took that all the way to a national title with Vanderbilt in 2015 as well as being named 2017 All-American in singles and doubles.

In Bogota, Sharma took the first game of the match by breaking her opponent, then served and held comfortably to consolidate the break. Sharma would not face a break point in the match.

The Australian held serves to take the first set 6-4.

In the second set, it was again Sharma that got an early break, this time in the third game to lead 2-1. Sharma again had break points in the seventh game but the Polish player fought her way out of that game.

Sharma held serve, despite being taken to deuce but then broke Linette in the next game to seal the match when Linette hit long at 30-40.

Sharma pumped her fist and let out a yell as she moved into her first WTA quarterfinal.

The Australian hit 18 winners to 14, but it was the unforced errors that made a difference. Sharma had 17 to Linette’s 22.

The live ranking for Sharma now jumps to a career-high no. 120. Sharma started 2019 at no. 230 and would move well into the top-100 if she can go all the way to the title in Bogota, a finals appearance will see her right around the top-100. But there are plenty of tough matches ahead.

Next up for Sharma is the winner of the match between Italy’s lucky-loser Sara Errani and qualifier Bibiane Schoofs from the Netherlands.

The top-ranked player still in the drawer is Tamara Zidansek, the world no. 67. Zidansek defeated Sharma in the opening round at the 2017 Canberra International. They could meet again in the semis.

Astra Sharma’s Vanderbilt profile

In a battle of former world no. 1’s, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka defeated German Angelique Kerber, the no. 1 seed 6-4 4-6 6-1 in the semi-final of the Monterrey Open.

The win extends Azarenka’s dominant head-to-head record to 8-1. The only time Kerber has defeated the Belarussian was in the quarters at the Australian Open in 2016, a tournament she went on to win.

This week in Monterrey it is the first time Azarenka has put together this many wins in a week. She had won her first three matches without dropping a set.

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Photo: Victoria Azarenka into her first final since Miami in 2016.

Kerber took the early lead, breaking in the first game, and had the chance to lead by a double break at 3-1, but after multiple deuces two consecutive aces saw the Belarusian hold for 3-2. Azarenka lead for the first time after the ninth game and then a shot into the net by Kerber brought up set point on the German’s serve, which Azarenka converted with a backhand return winner. Kerber should have seen the score at 5-5 but missed a sitter of a shot with game point. She sent Azarenka wide and then had an open court to hit into, but pushed a shot long.

Once again, Kerber broke in the first game, but Azarenka was able to break back immediately to level the score at 1-1. Azarenka was not able to hold her next service game, giving the German the lead again at 2-1. A double fault by Azarenka in the seventh game brought up another break point for Kerber. She lead by a double break when a backhand by Azarenka was overruled as out by the chair 5-2.

The German was unable to serve out the set the first time. She hit a forehand winner in the next game to earn a set point, but she hit a backhand long in the next point to allow Azarenka to hold on for another game. Kerber successfully served out the set the second time to take the match to a decider.

Azarenka stormed out to a 5-0 lead in the third set and had a match point in the sixth game when Kerber sent a backhand into the net. She couldn’t convert it as she returned the serve into the net, giving Kerber her first game of the third set. The Belarusian was able to serve it out, despite facing a break point. Kerber hit a forehand out on match point, handing Azarenka her ticket into her first tour-level final in just over three years.

Kerber had too many unforced errors throughout the match with 40 to 32 and it was 35 winners for Azarenka to 30 for Kerber. Throughout the match Azarenka broke six times from 12 opportunities. Kerber broke four times.

She will play no. 2 seed and defending champion, Garbiñe Muguruza for the title. Muguruza easily overcame Magdaléna Rybáriková in straight sets 6-2 6-3. Both Muguruza and Azarenka have only dropped one set each on their road to the final.

18-year-old Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine has come back from 5-2 down in the deciding set to snatch the championship trophy from the hands of Australia’s Ajla Tomljaovic. She won in a three-set showdown 6-2 2-6 7-6(3).

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Photo: Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska hits a retun against Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic during the final of the WTA Thailand Open tennis tournament in Hua Hin on February 3, 2019. (Photo CHALINEE THIRASUPA/AFP/Getty Images)

Yastremska started strong, breaking in the second game. Tomljanovic had a chance to break back in the next game, but she sent the ball into the net on break point. Yastremska brought out a great number of winners to gain a 5-0 lead. Tomljanovic won her first game of the match in the sixth game and then broke in the next when Yastremska was trying to serve out the match, but the Ukrainian then broke Tomljanovic again in the eighth game to win the set.

Tomljanovic had a break point in the first game of the second set, and she almost got the break when a second serve from Yastremska was called out. But the Ukrainian challenged the call successfully, and then Tomljanovic returned the next serve long, preventing her from converting the break point. Yastremska went on to hold.

Tomljanovic held to love and then have another two chances to break in the third game, bringing up a double break point with a forehand winner. Yastremska gifted her the break with a double fault. The Ukrainian then broke back immediately to level the score at 2-2.

Another double fault by Yastremska brought up two break points for Tomljanovic, she couldn’t convert the first as she didn’t return the serve, but Yastremska doubled faulted to once again gift the Australian the break. Tomljanovic continued to win all the next games to win the second set and take the match to the distance.

Yastremska got an early lead in the third set, breaking in the second game to lead 2-0, but Tomljanovic found her form again to win the next five games, saving four break points along the way.

Tomljanovic attempted to serve out the match but did so unsuccessfully as she hit a ball into the net to give Yastremska a break point. This first break point was saved as Yastremska made the same error, but then two forehand winners by the Ukrainian kept her alive in the match. Yastremska then held her serve.

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Photo: Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic hits a return against Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska during the final of the WTA Thailand Open tennis tournament in Hua Hin on February 3, 2019. (Photo CHALINEE THIRASUPA/AFP/Getty Images)

During the change of ends between the ninth and tenth game, Yastremska called a trainer for her left knee, which Tomljanovic wasn’t happy about, complaining to the umpire and shaking her head in frustration. The Australian had a second chance to serve for the championship, but once again could not do so, giving Yastremska the second break back with a double fault.

Both players held to love in the next two games, taking the match to a tiebreaker. Tomljanovic got the mini-break on the first point when Yastremska hit the ball into the net, but she couldn’t keep her lead as the Ukrainian got three championship points brought up when Tomljanovic hit a backhand into the net. Yastremska won the match with a forehand winner.

In her speech following the match, Yastremska said that she dedicates the win to her mother, who recently had an accident and underwent surgery. From this win, the young Ukrainian will jump 13 places to reach a career-high ranking of 34 in the world. Tomljanovic also has reached a career-high ranking of 41.

“The match was really tough for me,” Yastremska told the press. “The first set I played maximum, and the second set, I felt that I can’t play like that, like how I played the first set, and I didn’t know what’s going on. I tried my best, and I tried to do the same things I was doing in the first set, but it’s just feelings like you’re empty, completely empty. I don’t know how to describe that.”

“But in the third set, when I was losing 5-2, I remembered one thing, which happened before this tournament, and it really helped me to go through and take extra power, and finish with a win,” Yastremska continued. The youngster was referring to an accident her mother had with an exploding champagne bottle at the Australian Open, which left her eye injured.

“She did the operation in Australia and she [flew] back to Ukraine, and it was really tough for me to play because I didn’t sleep well for nights, because she had a long operation,” Yastremska admitted. “But now she’s good, and that extra motivated me to win.”

18-year-old Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine has defeated Magda Linette of Poland to earn a spot in her second WTA final at the Toyota Thailand Open in Hua Hin. Yastremska made her maiden WTA final in Hong Kong, where she beat China’s Qiang Wang to win her first title.

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Photo: Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine hits a return against Magda Linette of Poland during their semi-final match at the Thailand Open tennis tournament in Hua Hin on February 2, 2019. (Photo by Chalinee THIRASUPA / AFP) (Photo credit should read CHALINEE THIRASUPA/AFP/Getty Images)

Yastremska, who stunned former Grand Slam champion Garbiñe Muguruza in the quarterfinals, secured the first set with a pivotal break at 5-4.

Yastremska and Linette exchanged breaks of serve at the start of the second set before the Ukrainian stepped up to win 6-4, 6-3 in a little over 90 minutes.

In the final on Sunday, Yastremska will face the hard-hitting sixth seed Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia. The two have played once before in China Open qualifying last year, where it was the Ukrainian who came out on top.

But both players are at the top of their game in Thailand, having not dropped a set on their path to the final.

Also read – Tomljanovic cruises into Toyota Thailand Open Final