Martic, Qualifier Pera Take WTA Titles In Lausanne, Budapest

Former French Open quarterfinalist Petra Martic won her second career title cruising past qualifier Olga Danilovic 6-4, 6-2 in the final of Lausanne.

Ranked 85 but once a Top 15 player, Martic scored strong wins to reach the final besting Belinda Bencic and Caroline Garcia on her favored clay surface.

“I think I played pretty consistent from the beginning until the end,” Martic said. “Yesterday and the matches before, I couldn’t do that and I had a few drops. Today, I really tried to stay sharp and not let her get back in the match.

The 21-year-old Danilovic of Serbia was seeking her second title after a stunning run as a lucky loser to win Moscow in 2018.

“When I arrived here on the first day, it was the beginning of qualies; I came to check out the Center Court and the opening match was Olga,” Martic said to he opponent. “I was with my agent, and I told her, ‘I think this girl is going to be such a great player,’ and not only is she going to be, I think she already is.

“You already won a tournament like this, beaten me before, done so many nice things, and it’s only the beginning for you.”

Serbia went 0-2 in finals Sunday as Aleksandra Krunic fell in the Budapest final to American Bernarda Pera 6-3, 6-3.

“It’s still so overwhelming,” Pera said. “I’m still a little bit shocked how it turned out, but I felt I played some good tennis and I’m so excited for the win.

“She’s a great player and she’s been feeling great, I think, this last week as well. From the outside it looked easy, but from the inside it wasn’t that easy. She hits fast also, so I had to be quick on my feet and had to take control of the points early. I was happy I was able to do that.”

Pera, who qualified into the event, was making her debut in a WTA title match while Krunic was in her third though first in four years.

Top seeds took it hard this week losing first round of both events, Barbora Krejcikova in Budapest and Danielle Collins in Lausanne.

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