World No 30 Katie Boulter successfully defended her Nottingham Open title by winning back-to-back matches over 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu and former No 1 Karolina Pliskova on Sunday.
Facing Pliskova in the final, Boulter prevailed 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Nottingham is Boulter’s third career title and second of the season. She won her first of the year earlier on the hard courts of San Diego.
Last year, Boulter captured her first Hologic WTA Tour title with an inspired run at Nottingham. The victory boosted the Leicester native back in the Top 100 and sparked her steady rise up the rankings to sit comfortably as Britain’s top-ranked woman.
“This is a little bit of deja vu,” Pliskova said.
“I’m not entirely sure if I’m dreaming or if this actually just happened. It’s incredible to be here. It’s got a special place in my heart and it always will.
“It’s been an incredible week for me. Mentally tough after a hard clay-court season.”
The 27-year-old was made to work on Sunday, as she rallied from a set down twice to remain undefeated on the week. The day began with the resumption of her suspended semifinal duel with Raducanu. The two played a tense 80-minute first set on Saturday evening, which Raducanu won 7-6(13) before play was suspended for light.
Samsonova pulls double duty to win ‘s-Hertogenbosch title
‘Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova came from a set down to defeat Bianca Andreescu in the final of the ‘s-Hertogenbosch WTA tournament on Sunday to claim her fifth career title.
The second seed defeated the former US Open champion 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 having started the day completing a semi-final win over compatriot Ekaterina Alexandrova.
“I’m a little bit tired, honestly,” Samsonova said on court.
“I think where I go it always rains, I don’t know. It’s already one month and it’s raining all the day.”
Samsonova’s day began with the resumption of her semi-final with defending champion Alexandrova who had saved match points the night before to force a third set.
However, Samsonova needed just 32 minutes to close out a 6-3, 6-7 (1/7), 6-1 win over the third seed.
Australian top seed Alex De Minaur beat American Sebastian Korda 6-2, 6-4 to win the ATP title at the same ‘s-Hertogenbosch event, a key grass-court warm-up for Wimbledon.
The straight-sets win in the Netherlands ensured the 25-year-old will reach a career-high world ranking of seven.
It was De Minaur’s second title of the season after winning in Acapulco, Mexico, in March, and the ninth of his career.