CLUJ-NAPOCA, Romania – Russia’s Anna Blinkova defeated Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in three sets in the final of the Transylvania Open.
Also, World Number 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland collected her eighth WTA title at the San Diego Open after defeating Croatia’s Donna Vekic in the final.
World No.1 Iga Swiatek of Poland took home her eighth title of the year, fending off a spirited effort by qualifier Donna Vekic to prevail 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 and win the San Diego Open.
In her first tour-level final, World No.138 Blinkova outlasted 74th-ranked Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 to cap off a dream week in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Blinkova needed 1 hour and 41 minutes to prevail and hoist her first WTA singles championship trophy.
“I’m feeling so good, and I cannot even describe my emotions because I just finished a very tough match,” Blinkova said.
“Actually, all the matches were very tough, and I’m extremely happy to be able to go through all the challenges and stay mentally strong and mentally stable.”
Blinkova becomes the fifth qualifier to win a singles title on the WTA Tour this season, joining Tatjana Maria (Bogota), Anastasia Potapova (Istanbul), Bernarda Pera (Budapest) and Caroline Garcia (Cincinnati).
Moreover, 24-year-old Blinkova is projected to return to the Top 100 for the first time since last September. Her career-high ranking is World No.54, achieved in February of 2020.
Swiatek holds off Vekic in San Diego
Top-seeded Swiatek needed 1 hour and 47 minutes to earn the 11th WTA singles title of her career after defeating qualifier Donna Vekic 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 and win the San Diego Open.
Swiatek has the most match-wins in a single season (including WTA Tour events and Billie Jean King Cup play) since Serena Williams won 78 matches in 2013.
Swiatek has had a nearly perfect year at American events, with a 24-1 win-loss record on US soil in 2022.
She adds the San Diego trophy to triumphs in the States at the Sunshine Double of Indian Wells and Miami, as well as her third career Grand Slam title at the US Open.
Meanwhile, Vekic’s resurgent run through the draw came to an end at the hands of the World No.1, in the former Top 20 player’s second match of the day.
After winning her two qualifying matches, Vekic had defeated four straight Top 25 players in this week’s main draw. But despite pushing Swiatek into a third set for the first time in their three meetings, overcoming the top seed was a step too far for Vekic.
Swiatek won 82 per cent of her second-service points in the final, while Vekic only had a 39 per cent success rate behind her own second serves. That helped Swiatek convert four of her six break points on the day.
Pegula has now won five WTA doubles titles in her career, all coming during her breakthrough 2022 season. Gauff, who held the WTA Doubles World No.1 ranking for four weeks earlier this year, has won six WTA doubles titles overall.
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