Saturday, June 22, 2013

Vesnina wins Eastbourne

I like that so much, I have to say it again: Vesnina wins Eastbourne.

So often, finally getting that one tournament win, after just missing out on so many titles, gives a player the confidence to go on winning. Francesca Schiavone is a prime example. Today, it was Elena Vesnina who won her second WTA title, the premier event in Eastbourne. Vesnina had to fight both opponent Jamie Hampton and some very strong wind, but she didn't appear to have to fight her nerves.

"Maybe my time has come," the new champion said. "Maybe I've changed a little bit as a player, as a person. I grew up. I started to be more mature...."
Maybe my time has come," Vesnina said. "Maybe I've changed a little bit as a player, as a person. I grew up. I started to be more mature. - See more at: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3217266/title/vesnina-wins-in-windy-eastbourne#sthash.X0NC5vRS.dpuf
"Maybe my time has come," Vesnina said. "Maybe I've changed a little bit as a player, as a person. I grew up. I started to be more mature. - See more at: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3217266/title/vesnina-wins-in-windy-eastbourne#sthash.kZ0GIoa5.dpuf
"Maybe my time has come," Vesnina said. "Maybe I've changed a little bit as a player, as a person. I grew up. I started to be more mature. - See more at: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3217266/title/vesnina-wins-in-windy-eastbourne#sthash.o8HTi2Iv.dpuf
"Maybe my time has come," Vesnina said. "Maybe I've changed a little bit as a player, as a person. I grew up. I started to be more mature. - See more at: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3217266/title/vesnina-wins-in-windy-eastbourne#sthash.kZ0GIoa5.dpuf
"Maybe my time has come," Vesnina said. "Maybe I've changed a little bit as a player, as a person. I grew up. I started to be more mature. - See more at: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3217266/title/vesnina-wins-in-windy-eastbourne#sthash.kZ0GIoa5.dpuf
aybe my time has come," Vesnina said. "Maybe I've changed a little bit as a player, as a person. I grew up. I started to be more mature. - See more at: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3217266/title/vesnina-wins-in-windy-eastbourne#sthash.X0NC5vRS.dpuf
Maybe my time has come," Vesnina said. "Maybe I've changed a little bit as a player, as a person. I grew up. I started to be more mature. - See more at: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3217266/title/vesnina-wins-in-windy-eastbourne#sthash.X0NC5vRS.dpuf

To get to the final, the unseeded Russian player had to dispense of 7th seed Ana Ivanovic, Heather Watson, 2nd seed Li Na, and Yanina Wickmayer. Not bad for a week's work.

Vesnina beat Hampton 6-2, 6-1. After going 0-6 in finals, Vesnina began this season by winning Hobart.

Top seeds Nadia Petrova and Katarina Srebotnik won the doubles title, defeating Monica Niculescu and Klara Zakopalova 6-3, 6-3.

The other big news of the weekend was that Simona Halep won the title in 's-Hertogenbosch. The unseeded Halep defeated 4th seed Kirsten Flipkens 6-4, 6-2 in the final. Earlier in the week, she took out top seed Roberta Vinci, 6-0, 6-1. And only last week, Halep won the clay court event in Nurmberg--her first WTA title. The very talented Halep is now on a ten-match win streak. In her first Wimbledon round, she plays Olga Govortsova. Should she win, she'll probably see Li again in her next round.

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