Tashkent, Oct 13: Spain's veteran Virginia Ruano Pascual won her third career WTA title beating Saori Obata of Japan in the final of the 140,000-dollar Tashkent Open tournament here yesterday.
Ruano Pascual, fourth seed here, clinched the 87-minute final in straight sets 6-2 7-6 (7/2) to level her head-to-head record with the third-seeded Obata at 1-1.
The 30-year-old doubles specialist Ruano Pascual looked dominant right from the start, winning the opening set in 30 minutes.
In the second Obata, 27, moved up a gear to gain a comfortable 5-2 lead. However, Ruano Pascual levelled the scores, forcing a tiebreak, which she won 7-2 to claim her first WTA title since 1998.
The winner Ruano Pascual received a cheque for 22,000 dollars while Obata pocketed 12,000 dollars.


Bureau Report