Katerina condemns Caroline to fifth final defeat of year

BASTAD: Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic clinched the Bastad clay court title on Sunday with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Caroline Wozniacki who has now lost five finals in 2017.

For 21-year-old Katerina, the World No 56, it was a second career title after her maiden triumph in Shenzhen last year.

“It’s really amazing for me,” said Katerina, who was runner-up at the Swedish venue in 2016.

“Last year was really good, and so I’m so happy that I came back because I couldn’t imagine a better week.”

Heavy rain delayed the final by more than two hours before the action was further disrupted by medical time-outs for both players.

Caroline, who has a season-leading 42 wins under her belt, was aiming to take home her first title after finishing runnerup in Doha, Dubai, Miami, and Eastbourne.

However, her efforts were not helped by a right elbow injury which contributed to 39 unforced errors to just 19 winners.

“It was a tough match. Katerina played very well, so congratulations on winning the title,” the former World No 1 told wtatour.com. “I’m looking forward to the US Open Series and the US Open. It’s one of the tournaments where I’ve done my best, and it’s one of my favourite tournaments of the year. I’m excited to go back, see how I can do on the hardcourts and hopefully finish the year strongly.”

Meanwhile, John Isner claimed his fourth ATP Atlanta title on Sunday, saving a set-point in both sets en route to a 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (9-7) win over Ryan Harrison.

Second-seeded American Isner notched his second ATP title in as many weeks after lifting the trophy in Newport last week.

Atlanta was the perfect place for him to keep the momentum going. Isner, who has reached the final in seven of eight editions of the tournament, added a fourth title to those he won in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Harrison, seeded fourth, was denied a second career ATP title, to go with his victory in Memphis in February.

“There wasn’t much that separated us at all,” Isner said. “So I’m happy to win that match in straight sets ... very happy to win today.”