Women's Tennis Association Tournament Recap
The matchup was a surprise: two unseeded players had reached the finals of the Volvo Car Open. But it also intrigued. Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, ranked 66th in the world, and the Russian, 42nd-ranked Daria Kasatkina, were not only both just 19 years old, but each was seeking her first WTA singles title. It was the first all-teenage final on tour in more than seven years.
The first four games were spirited, the style contrast between these two demonstrated quite vividly. Ostapenko – who’d struck an astounding 40 winners in her quarterfinal win over 2011 champion Caroline Wozniacki – had the heavy-duty artillery in the form of her concussive groundstrokes.
Kasatkina, far more measured, absorbed those blows – and then struck. With Ostapenko serving at 2-2, 15-30, Kasatkina laced a deep backhand crosscourt service return that in turn gave her the chance to delicately carve another crosscourt backhand – in this case, a deft drop that elicited a pair of break points that in time put her ahead 3-2.
Though Ostapenko broke back for 3-all, in large part, by this stage, the terms had been dictated – more by Kasatkina’s variety than Ostapenko’s power. Kasatkina broke again at 3-3, held easily at 15 and then again took Ostapenko’s serve to win the first set, 6-3.
What was happening to Ostapenko was subtle but significant. Like a scientist conducting a dissection, Kasatkina patiently disrupted Ostapenko – her contact point, her feet and, along with that, her ability to win points. In 65 minutes, Kasatkina had won the title, 6-3, 6-1.
Said Ostapenko afterwards, “I'm aggressive player, and I don't think she could like be more aggressive than me, so she was trying to play defensive to change the rhythm, to play slice, to play lobs, to do kick serve, to try everything to make me uncomfortable. And normally I'm fine with that, but today I just didn't feel the ball that well.”
“I don't know even what to say,” said Kasatkina. “When I won the last ball, everything like closed and I just feel like I'm dreaming.”
For both, though, it had been a great week. Said Ostapenko, “I think I got a bit more consistent on clay, and yeah, I think I improved my serve and I'm moving better, but I still have a lot of things to work on and I think it's pretty good because then I can climb in the ranking.”
Kasatkina, of course, was elated. “I'm just enjoying it every moment, every second,” she said. “And really, when I was on the court after the last point, I just wanted the moment to stop because it was one of the best moments in my life.”
MONTERREY, Mexico - No.2 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova completed a Russian sweep of WTA titles this week, shocking top seed and World No.1 Angelique Kerber, 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 to win her fourth Abierto GNP Seguros title.
"I'm really overwhelmed and don't think I realized that I just won my fourth Monterrey trophy," she said in her post-victory press conference. "Some people just have four trophies in total, and I have four here! It's very special and it's a special place in my heart; it's where I won my first title and since won three more.
"But a trophy is a trophy; I'm so happy to hold it."
Following countrywoman Daria Kasatkina's title run at the Volvo Car Open, Pavlyuchenkova got out to the early advantage in Sunday's final, taking the only break of the first set on her third set point.
"Playing the final against the No.1 player in the world is already very special, because everyone wants to compete against the No.1. You don't get so many chances to do it, so it was one opportunity for me today. Beating here feels amazing, but I'm just enjoying the moment right now."
Kerber was looking for her first title of the season and aimed to turn the tables on the big-hitting Russian, winning a long third game to break serve and run away with the second set to level the match.
"Honestly, I didn't have much energy left in the tank during the second set. First, it was really hot today, and tough conditions. Angelique was making me play every single point, so I felt as though I'd already given a lot in the first set. The first three games in the second were really long and I felt, 'That's it. I don't have anything left.'
"But it's a final; I said I'd try my best and give everything I had. So I had to find something somewhere, what little energy I did have, and put that into the match. I'm so happy I managed to do that."
Pavlyuchenkova is in the midst of a career-best start to her year, making quarterfinal finishes at the Australian Open and BNP Paribas Open since hiring new coach Simon Goffin.
With him in her corner, she raced out to a 5-0 lead in the final set, ultimately serving out her ninth career title in just under two hours.
