23-year-old Alison Van Uytvanck has won her first WTA title after defeating Hungary’s Timea Babos 5-7, 6-4, 6-1, in the final of the Coupe Banque Nationale in Quebec.
The seventh seed roared to the final of the tournament by dropping one set in four matches. Facing third seed Babos, Van Uytvanck was forced to battle from behind against her higher ranked opponent. After falling behind 5-7, the world No.98 saved six break points in her first service game of the second in what was a turning point in the match. Eventually the resistance of the Belgian proved too strong as she battle towards her biggest title to date.
“I would have never believed that I could win here, getting to the final was already a great result. I am very happy and we are going to celebrate this win,” the newly crowned champion said.
Glimmers of Van Uytvanck’s talent has emerged in recent years. In 2015 she secured her tour breakthrough by reaching the quarter-finals of the French Open. During that same year she she rose to a ranking high of 41st in the world.
Since the 2015 milestones, the 23-year-old has been sidelined by an ankle injury and underwent surgery on her right wrist, forcing her to miss the start of the 2017 season. She didn’t return to the tour until March.
Now injury-free, the Belgian is targeting a re-entry into the world’s top 50 with the hope she can reproduce her run in Quebec elsewhere. Van Uytvanck currently has a win-loss record of 16-10 this season.
“It gives me a lot of confidence, I had a lot of points to defend during this stretch and now the pressure is off and I hope to keep playing like I did here.” She said about winning her first WTA title.
As a result of her triumph, Van Uytvanck will now rise to 68th in the world. Her highest position since April 2016.
