Baastad, Sweden: Slovenian Polona Hercog collected her first WTA title when she beat Johanna Larsson in straight sets to win the Swedish Open in Baastad on Saturday.
The 20-year-old, whose only previous final came in Acapulco last year when she lost to Venus Williams, beat her 22-year-old Swedish opponent 6-4, 7-5.
Hercog, ranked 53 in the world, said Larsson was "a fighter who fought to the last point," adding she was thrilled to have won her first title match.Larsson, the world number 65 but set to move into the top 50, said she had only aimed to get to the semi-finals, but then unexpectedly beat her compatriot Sofia Arvidsson, who herself brought down world number one, Caroline Wozniacki.
"I didn`t play a bad match, but ... she (Hercog) played better than me," she said.
"Of course I am disappointed, with two finals and two losses, but I have done more than I had expected this week.”
"People have criticised me for playing a good game, but then seeing my energy wane. Now I showed I can make it almost all the way there," she said.
Bureau Report
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