Tennis: Hard-hitting Wickmayer claims Classic title

Belgian Yanina Wickmayer's impressive showing this week, reached its climax with the third seed winning the singles title. Photo / Getty Images

Big-hitting Belgian Yanina Wickmayer overcame some early jitters to produce a dominant performance and upset top-seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta in the final of the ASB Classic tennis tournament in Auckland today.

Wickmayer, the third seed, won 6-3 6-2 in 74 minutes to claim her third WTA Tour title.

Both players began nervously, with Wickmayer, 20, dropping serve in the opening game.

Pennetta, 27, then found herself 0-40 down in the next game, but was allowed to hold for a 2-0 lead because of her opponent's unforced errors.

However, Wickmayer began finding her range with her groundstrokes, especially her booming forehand.

She broke serve twice in succession for a decisive 5-3 lead, and while Pennetta staved off three set points, Wickmayer closed out the set.

After both players traded service breaks at the start of the second set, Wickmayer broke again after playing one of the shots of the tournament.

A running forehand winner down the line established the opening that she converted for a 3-2 advantage.

At 2-4 down, Pennetta again dropped serve, in frustrating circumstances.

She recovered from 0-40 to get to deuce, but then double faulted to face another break point, which she lost by putting a forehand volley into the net.

Earlier today, the world's No 1 ranked doubles combination, Zimbabwe's Cara Black and American Liezel Huber, claimed their 28th WTA Tour title as a team.

They beat the unseeded pairing of South African Natalie Grandin and American Laura Granville 7-6 (7-4) 6-2.

- NZPA