Timea Babos of Hungary defeated top seed Misaki Doi of Japan at the OEC Taipei WTA Challenger: 7-5, 6-3. The twenty-two year old had 15 aces in the match with no double faults. She won 80% of her first serves compared to 68% for Doi. Babos was able to convert one break of serve in each set in six chances while saving all five breaks she faced. The fourth seed did not drop a set in the tournament, neither had Doi until this match.
This is the second WTA title for Babos currently ranked 84; she also won at Monterrey in 2012. Earlier this year the Hungarian was a finalist at Marrakesh. She reached the mixed doubles final (with partner Alexander Peya) and the ladies doubles semifinals (with partner Kristina Mladenovic) at Wimbledon as well. Twenty-four year-old Doi, who is at her highest career ranking of 60, had recently won her first WTA title in Luxembourg beating Andrea Petkovic and Jelena Jankovic in that tournament.
Taipei was the fifth stop in the WTA 125K Series that began in began in 2012. These tournaments offer an opportunity for emerging markets to host a women’s professional tennis event. While this series attracts some veteran players, it provides a chance for young players to gain experience and earn more ranking points. Six tournaments were scheduled for 2015: Nanchang (won by Jelena Jankovic); Dailan (won by Saisai Zheng); Limoges (won by Caroline Garcia); Hua Hin (won by Yaroslava Shvedova); Taipei (won today by Babos); and Carlsbad (next week). Yanina Wickmayer heads the field at Carlsbad, the final WTA 125K Series event of 2015.
