SEOUL: Ekaterina Alexandrova overcame nerves to claim third career title as she dismantled injury-hindered top seed Jelena Ostapenko 7-6 (7/4), 6-0 in the final of Korea Open on Sunday.
The two battled to a long tiebreaker after an hour-long tied first set in front of more than 10,000 spectators, a record for the Seoul event.
But that all changed in the second set as second seeded Russia Alexandrova overpowered former French Open champion Latvia, who required a medical timeout at 3-0 for a foot problem.
“I think it was difficult for me to start because I was very nervous and couldn’t find the rhythm in the first two games,” said 27-year-old Alexandrova.
“But the longer we played, the better I felt on the pitch.
“I think maybe somewhere at the end of the first set I finally found the rhythm and continued to keep it in the second set.”
The Russian is enjoying the best season of her career, having also won the Libema Open in the Netherlands in June, and is expected to reach a career high of 21 in the world.
“You always want to do more,” Alexandrova added.
“I want to go higher and maybe finish the year in the top 20 at best.”
Ostapenko had advanced to the Korea Open final after former US Open winner Emma Raducanu pulled out in the third set of their semi-final with an injury.
The two battled to a long tiebreaker after an hour-long tied first set in front of more than 10,000 spectators, a record for the Seoul event.
But that all changed in the second set as second seeded Russia Alexandrova overpowered former French Open champion Latvia, who required a medical timeout at 3-0 for a foot problem.
“I think it was difficult for me to start because I was very nervous and couldn’t find the rhythm in the first two games,” said 27-year-old Alexandrova.
“But the longer we played, the better I felt on the pitch.
“I think maybe somewhere at the end of the first set I finally found the rhythm and continued to keep it in the second set.”
The Russian is enjoying the best season of her career, having also won the Libema Open in the Netherlands in June, and is expected to reach a career high of 21 in the world.
“You always want to do more,” Alexandrova added.
“I want to go higher and maybe finish the year in the top 20 at best.”
Ostapenko had advanced to the Korea Open final after former US Open winner Emma Raducanu pulled out in the third set of their semi-final with an injury.