Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu has claimed her first WTA title since 2012 following a 6-3,6-1, win over Belarusian qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the final of the Korean Open.
Throughout the match, the top seed attacked the temperamental Sasnovich serve as she converted 6 out 8 break points. Both players endured a nervous start to the match with an exchange of breaks of service. Begu was first to hold her service in the fourth game of the match as she opened up a 3-1 lead. The lead was quickly lost as Sasnovich clawed her way back to 3-3. The world No.136, who defeated Sloane Stephens and Anna Karolina Schmiedlová to reach her first WTA final, was displaying glimmers of the talent which she has, however, her inexperience was clear. Begu struck again by breaking her rival twice to take the opening set on her third set point.
Despite the one set lead, Begu experienced a minor scare at the start of the second set. Trailing 15-40 in her service game, she battled back to hold her serve before breaking Sasnovich once again in the following game. The Romanian grew stronger as the set progressed by claiming five consecutive games to move to just four points away from the title. Sasnovich prevented the bagel by holding her serve to love for the first time in the match, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Begu from claiming her second WTA title.
Throughout the match, which lasted an hour and nineteen minutes, Begu won 60% of her total service points compared to Sasnovich’s 39%. Her victory in Seoul will elevate Begu to a new career ranking high of 26 when they are published on Monday.
Following her win against Sasnovich, Begu reflected on her form today compared to three years ago when she won her maiden WTA title in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
“I’m so happy to win my first WTA title in three years – it’s been a long time, and I’ve improved a lot, I think,” Begu said.
“I’ve learned a lot from many matches and many experiences, and most of all I think I’ve become much more consistent when I’m playing. I feel totally different from three years ago”. The Romanian added.
