Smitkova seals Limoges title

TerezaSmitkova

The Czech edged a tight contest to claim her title at WTA Tour level with a 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 triumph in the final.

Smitkova, who progressed the fourth round of Wimbledon earlier this year, recently reached a career-high ranking of 83, which will improve further following glory in France.

Ninth seed and home hope Mladenovic will have approached the contest as a slight favourite but was undone in a tie-break at the end of a first set that saw the Frenchwoman waste her only break-point opportunity.

And the 21-year-old, who also lost the doubles'  final of the 125k series event later in the day, could not find a way back into the match as Smitkova closed out arguably the biggest win of her young career.

Smitkova won a frenetic second set that featured five breaks of serve to wrap up the success in a composed performance that was defined by an impressive 12 aces.

Author(s)