NOTTINGHAM — Top seed Karolina Pliskova saved six set points to take the first set on a nail-biting tie-break on her way to clinching the Nottingham title Sunday.
The Czech made it a fifth WTA crown — but a first on grass — with the hard-fought 7-6 (10/8), 7-5 victory over Alison Riske of the United States.
Pliskova's first title of 2016 sets her up perfectly for Wimbledon, which begins in two weeks.
The world number 17 also won titles in Prague (2015), Seoul (2014), Linz (2014) and Kuala Lumpur (2013).
Vandeweghe wins her 2nd title
Coco Vandeweghe beat Kristina Mladenovic 7-5, 7-5 to win her second Ricoh Open title in a final blighted by long rain delays Sunday.
Vandeweghe also won the grass-court tournament in Rosmalen in 2014 — her only two titles on the tour.
The match was first suspended after five games and again after the sixth-seeded Vandeweghe had won the first set.
Vandeweghe had seven aces and saved two of three break points. The third-seeded Mladenovic was in her first final of the year.
Murray reunites
with Ivan Lendl
Andy Murray said Sunday he is reuniting with former coach Ivan Lendl, the man who helped the British player to win his two Grand Slam titles.
Lendl was Murray's coach for two years until 2014, during which time he won the 2012 US Open and Wimbledon the following year. Murray also won the gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
"I had two very successful years working with Ivan, he's single-minded and knows what it takes to win the big events," Murray said. "I'm looking forward to Ivan joining the team again and helping me try and reach my goals."
No. 2-ranked Murray lost the French Open final to Novak Djokovic last week.
Since splitting with Lendl, Murray has lost three Grand Slam finals, all to Djokovic, the man he had beaten in his two Grand Slam successes. In total, Murray has lost eight of his 10 Grand Slam final appearances.
Murray and Lendl parted in March 2014 after the eight-time Grand Slam champion decided he no longer wanted to spend 20-plus weeks travelling.
Lendl, who will be with Murray for the grass-court season starting with the Aegon Championships at Queen's Club in London from Monday and culminating with Wimbledon, which begins on June 27, said he's looking forward to reuniting with the 29-year-old Murray.
"I enjoyed working with Andy in the past," Lendl said. "Andy and I have always stayed in contact so it should be fun to be part of his team again."
Murray replaced Lendl with Amelie Mauresmo in the summer of 2014 and helped him climb back up the rankings following back surgery. Murray's partnership with Mauresmo ended last month.
