America’s
Jessica Pegula won the Ladies Berlin Open after beating Anna
Kalinskaya in the final on Sunday. The final was an epic encounter in which both players gave their all to secure the title.
It was Kalinskaya who came out all guns blazing as she won
the first set with a score of 7-6. She converted three break points. Her most
impressive aspect was her ability to win points on her serve as she won 53.7
percent points while serving.
In the second set, Pegula bounced back as she secured the
set with a score of 6-4. The world number five won 64.3 percent service points
in the set, considerably higher than her opponent who managed to win just 55.2
percent points while serving.
The third set proved to be a treat for the fans. It was Kalinskaya
who held the edge and had a match point in the 10th game, but Pegula
managed to keep her calm and made it five 5-5. Once the set entered the tiebreak,
the world number five was too hot to handle for her opponent and she eventually
sealed the title with a score of 6-7, 6-4, 7-6.
The result would have been extremely pleasing for Pegula, who
was playing in her first final of a WTA Event. On the other hand, Kalinskaya will
be extremely disappointed after losing her second final this season. She also
lost in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championship to Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, who
came out on top with a score of 4-6, 7-5, 7-5.
For Kalinskaya, her next opponent will be Linda Noskova in
the Bad Homburg Open. It will the only second meeting between the two. In the
previous outing, which was in the Adelaide International, it was Noskova who
came out on top with a score of 3-6, 6-2, 7-6. On the other hand, Pegula will
next take part in the Eastbourne where she will face a player from the
qualifying round in her tournament opener.