Koukalova Breaks Title Jinx at WTA 's-Hertogenbosch

"I was a little bit nervous in the first set and did not play well at the beginning," said Koukalova on getting a rein on her choking ways to eventually fight back in three sets. "This is my sixth final and I really wanted to win."

The 18-year-old Safarova was shooting for her second career title after winning earlier in the year at Estoril, but failed to take care of her serve through the second and third sets.

Koukalova tried to give it away in the end, finally converting match point on her eighth try.

"I had so many match points, and I just couldn't do it," Koukalova said, eventually channeling Lleyton Hewitt to get the win. "By the fourth one I was telling myself if you don't get this, I'm going to be very mad. Come on!"

Safarova was competing in only her fifth WTA Tour main draw.

"Of course I'm a little disappointed that I didn't win but I think I had a really good week and I'm happy with the way I played here," Safarova said. "I played well in the first set but then Klara started to play better and her serve improved. I got a little tired and just wasn't able to give my best in the end."

In the doubles final No. 3 seeds Anabel Medina Garrigues and Dinara Safina defeated unseeded Iveta Benesova and Nuria Llagostera Vives 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(11), fighting off three match points to win their first title in their fourth final this year.