Golubic claims first title of career

Golubic claims first title of career

July 18, 2016
Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic poses with the trophy after her victory over Netherland’s Kiki Bertens in the final of the WTA Tennis Tournament in Gstaad Sunday. — AFP
Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic poses with the trophy after her victory over Netherland’s Kiki Bertens in the final of the WTA Tennis Tournament in Gstaad Sunday. — AFP

GSTAAD, Switzerland — Victorija Golubic claimed a home victory at the Gstaad WTA Tournament Sunday, the Zurich player fighting back for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 defeat of third seed Kiki Bertens.


The world No. 105 won the first title of her career in just over two hours as she overhauled her more experienced Dutch opponent.


Golubic denied 26th-ranked Bertens a second title this season as she claimed victory as the tournament returned to the calendar after a three-decade absence.


Golubic lost the first set but won the second, which was littered with six breaks of serve.


The 23-year-old Swiss went down a break in the first game of the final set but immediately broke back. She concluded victory as she broke Bertens in the tenth game as the Dutch player sent a return out.


Ramos-Vinolas bags maiden title


Albert Ramos-Vinolas beat Spanish compatriot and fellow left-hander Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-4 to clinch his first title at the Swedish Open Sunday.


Ramos-Vinolas, 28, was presented with the trophy by Swedish great Bjorn Borg.


Ranked 35th in the world, the Spaniard had only previously made it to one final where he lost to Pablo Andujar at Casablanca four years ago.


The 32-year-old Verdasco has seven ATP titles, the last of which he won on the clay courts at Bucharest in April.


In the semifinals, Ramos-Vinolas knocked out top-seeded David Ferrer 7-5, 6-4 and Verdasco, the runner-up in 2013, eased past first-time semifinalist Gastao Elias of Portugal 6-3, 6-1.


Klizan claims German Open


Martin Klizan beat Pablo Cuevas 6-1, 6-4 on Sunday to win the German Open for his second title of the year.


The third-seeded Cuevas had not lost a set in Hamburg before the final and had not dropped his serve.


Klizan has now won all five finals he has played on the tour.


In the semifinals, Cuevas defeated Renzo Olivio of Argentina 7-5, 6-3 and Klizan beat Stephane Robert of France 6-3, 6-4.


Halep takes Bucharest Open


Top-seeded Simona Halep didn't lose a game en route to her second Bucharest Open title Sunday, smashing seventh-seeded Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia 6-0, 6-0.


Romania's top player needed just 46 minutes to put away her opponent. She dominated the games, winning close to 70 percent of points on her serve. Halep also saved both break points she faced.


Halep had struggled in the semifinal against Vania King of the United States, needing more than two hours to dispatch the American 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-3.


July 18, 2016
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