Top
WTA trophy
Tennis News, WTA Tennis Players

‘Incredible’ WTA star continues perfect record in tournament finals


This star has now won five finals out of five on the WTA tour as she looks to turnaround a difficult campaign in 2021 so far.

Alison van Uytvanck faced world number 47 and home favourite Yulia Putintseva in the final of the inaugural WTA 250 Astana Open in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.

The Belgian world number 89 came from a set down to defeat Putintseva 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 to claim a fifth career title on the tour in as many attempts in finals.

“We had some tough months, thanks for believing in me,” van Uytvanck said of her coach in her trophy acceptance speech.

“She said to me ‘it will come your way.’ This week it’s my way. Thanks for that.”

Van Uytvanck held an underwhelming 9-14 record at WTA tour level in 2021 coming into the tournament. This included a streak of six losses starting at the Australian Open in February and only ending in June.

However, she has now won a first title for just over two years. Impressively, the 27-year-old has won all five tour finals in a deciding set, three times recovering from a set down.

The result will see van Uytvanck leap 35 spots in the women’s rankings to world number 54, far closer to her career-high of 37 achieved in 2018.

Putintseva was herself looking to secure a second title of the year. Her last triumph came on the clay of the WTA 250 Budapest Grand Prix in July.

The Kazakh is now two from five in WTA finals, and will climb three spots in the rankings to 44. Her career-high is 27th in the world, achieved in February 2017.


By
0