HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — Romanian qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse won her first title Sunday with a 7-6 (6), 6-4 victory over Andrea Petkovic in the Hamburg European Open final.
The 23-year-old Ruse is the lowest-ranked WTA winner at No. 198 since No. 299 Margarita Gasparyan won in Tashkent in 2018.
Ruse saved two set points in the first set and came back from trailing 3-0 in the second to beat Petkovic in 2 hours, 12 minutes.
“I felt really good today on the court,” Ruse said. “I would like to thank my coach very much. I’m such a crazy player, it’s not easy to work with me.”
Germany’s Petkovic reached her first final since 2015 with a win over Jule Niemeier in Saturday’s semifinals.
Ruse had rallied to beat top-seeded Dayana Yastremska 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 in their semifinal.
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