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September 23, 2012

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Britain still waits for WTA title as Hsieh triumphs

CHINESE Taipei's Hsieh Su-wei beat Briton Laura Robson in the Guangzhou International final yesterday, ending the teenager's attempt to become the first British woman to win a WTA title in 24 years.

Hsieh won 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in two hours and 48 minutes, leaving the 18-year-old Robson still waiting for a maiden tour win.

Robson, the world No. 74, had defeated Chinese second seed Zheng Jie and Romanian third seed Sorana Cirstea on her way to becoming the first British woman to reach a main tour final since 1990.

But her attempt to follow up her Olympic mixed doubles silver with compatriot Andy Murray by taking her first senior tour title ended in failure.

Robson had nine aces but was let down by her serve, offering 22 break opportunities to Hsieh and hitting 11 double faults.

Hsieh, who made the third round at Wimbledon this year and is ranked 53rd, broke six times and dropped serve on five occasions in the match.

Nonetheless British tennis appears to be in a historic purple patch, with Murray's triumph at the US Open earlier this month making him the first men's winner of a grand slam tournament in 76 years.

Reaching the final in Guangzhou was a landmark in a superb season for Australian-born Robson, who also made the last 16 of the US Open, beating Kim Clijsters and Li Na en route.

The teenager became British No. 1 earlier this week and is the youngest player in the WTA top 100 rankings.

She was the first British woman to contest a WTA tour singles final since Jo Durie at the Virginia Slims of Newport tournament in the US, 22 years ago. Sara Gomer was the last Briton to win a WTA singles title, taking the Northern California Open in 1988.




 

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