Zahlavova Strycova wins first WTA title

QUEBEC CITY: Czech sixth seed Barbora Zahlavova Strycova captured her first WTA title on Sunday, rallying to beat New Zealand's Marina Erakovic 4-6, 6-1, 6-0 and win the $220,000 Quebec City Challenge final.

The 25-year-old, ranked 10 spots ahead of Erakovic at 75th in the world, had lost her only prior WTA final last year on clay at Prague.

Erakovic broke to open her first WTA final but the Czech fought off two break points in the third game to hold serve and broke back. Erakovic, 23, broke again in the ninth game and held to take the first set after 53 minutes.

Zahlavova Strycova, who denied Erakovic on nine of 11 break-point chances in the first two sets, responded by winning 12 of the last 13 games to capture the match in one hour and 57 minutes.

Erakovic, a 2008 Olympian, had lost all three of her prior WTA semi-finals until ousting third-seeded defending champion Tamira Paszek of Austria on Saturday. (The NEws Pk)