The title at the inaugural WTA event in Austin has gone to Marta Kostyuk of the Ukraine. The 20-year-old Kostyuk survived a break-filled match to top Russian Varvara Gracheva 6-3, 7-5.
“Very surreal,” Kostyuk told the WTA. “I was just playing match by match, and I think this is how you win tournaments, I guess! It’s not so easy to talk right now, but obviously I’m extremely happy.
“I’m just happy to be healthy and happy to play tennis and see the crowd enjoy my game.”
Both players were appearing in their very first WTA title. And the nerves showed as the two combined for 13 breaks of serve (21 break points!) in the two sets played. But Kostyuk grabbed the break to win the first and then to take the second.
Gracheva missed a set point in the second as Kostyuk won the last four games of the match from 5-3 down.
Kostyuk has now won two of three tour-level meetings when facing Gracheva.
You Might Like:
Americans Collins, Volynets Eliminated In Austin; It’s A Kostyuk-Gracheva Final
Collins Rallies To Make Austin SFs; Stephens Upset
Americans Collins, Stephens Lead New WTA Stop In Austin; Raducanu Withdraws
Bencic Opens Abu Dhabi With A Win, Kontaveit Injured; Rybakina v Pliskova
Aryna Sabalenka Hopes To Finally Make Week 2 At French Open