WTA

Dominant display from Martic sees Croatian seal Ladies Open title in Lausanne

By Sports Desk July 17, 2022

Petra Martic clinched the Ladies Open Lausanne on Sunday after a straight-sets win against Olga Danilovic, prevailing 6-4 6-2.

The world number 85 secured the second WTA title of her career in one hour and 29 minutes on the clay on Sunday after a dominant showing against the Serbian.

Martic had eliminated three seeds on her way to the final and made a strong start as she broke Danilovic in the opening game the contest.

Danilovic recovered well and broke back soon after, before rescuing six break points in the seventh game, but she was unable to keep the Croatian at bay in her next service game as Martic took another break, before serving out to clinch the first set with a beautiful forehand down the line.

Martic's serve was her strength on the day, winning 71.8 per cent of her first serves, but more impressively, 63.2 per cent of her second serves compared to 29.2 per cent from her opponent.

Danilovic was competing in her first WTA Tour final in 1,449 days, with her last one being on July 29, 2018, when she won in Moscow.

A steady start to the second set from Danilovic was undone in the fifth game after a sloppy service game saw Martic break to love.

The 31-year-old was then made to work to hold her own serve, before breaking again following a couple of fortunate moments when the ball clipped the net.

Martic - who had been ranked as high as 14th in the world in 2020 - then served out with ease to clinch her first title since 2019, and despite the comfortable victory, had words of praise for her 21-year-old opponent during her on-court interview post-match.

"When I arrived here the first day, I came to check out the centre courts and I saw Olga playing," she told the crowd. "I said to my manager 'she is going to be a great player'. She already is."

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