SEOUL — Jessica Pegula beat Yuan Yue 6-2, 6-3 within the closing of the Korea Open on Sunday for the fourth title of her profession.
The top-seeded Pegula dropped just one set by way of the event and turns into the primary American since Venus Williams in 2007 to win the title in Seoul.
“My mom is Korean and she was adopted from here so it’s really special to be able to win here,” Pegula mentioned. “In the last few years, as my ranking has gone up, I’ve definitely felt so much more support from the fans, a lot more than I expected coming back here from five years ago. So it’s really special.”
Playing in her first profession closing, 128th-ranked Yuan confirmed no indicators of nerves and earned a break level in Pegula’s opening service recreation, which the American saved with a forehand winner.
The world No. 4-ranked participant then received eight consecutive video games to take the primary set and construct a 3-0 lead within the second as a fast victory appeared possible.
Yuan then rallied to get again to 4-3 however Pegula’s energy from the baseline propelled her to her first title since Montreal earlier this yr and her first outdoors of North America.
PHOTOS: Pegula beats Yuan to say Korea Open title. Fernandez wins Hong Kong Open
Leylah Fernandez rallied from a set right down to defeat Katerina Siniakova 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 and win the Hong Kong Open for her first title in 19 months.
It is the third title of the 21-year-old Canadian’s profession and first since profitable at Monterrey in March 2022. After the win, she may even transfer again inside the highest 50 within the rankings subsequent week.
“We had a very, very hard past couple of years,” Fernandez mentioned. “My family, my parents, my coach, and my performance coach stayed by my side.”
“They motivated me to keep going and the hard work is paying off. Hopefully, we can keep going this way.”
It was a nervy begin by Fernandez and No. 85-ranked Siniakova earned two breaks to say the opening set.
Fernandez, ranked sixtieth, responded by constructing a 4-0 lead within the second earlier than the Czech participant took an off-court medical timeout and returned together with her left higher leg taped.
The break appeared to assist Siniakova as she labored her manner again to 3-4 however Fernandez saved six break factors in a 10-deuce recreation to carry after which took the set in her subsequent service recreation.
After exchanging breaks by way of the deciding set, Fernandez made the decisive break to guide 5-4 after which held her nerve to serve out the win in 2 hours and 49 minutes.
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