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September 25, 2011

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Scheepers claims maiden crown in Guangzhou

SOUTH Africa's Chanelle Scheepers won her first WTA title yesterday, beating Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 6-2, 6-2 in the final of the Guangzhou Open in south China's Guangdong Province.

Scheepers, the seventh seed, broke her opponent four times and saved two break points on her own serve.

Scheepers is ranked 73rd in the world, just one spot below Rybarikova. The Slovakian player had been trying for her second title of the season.

Scheepers fought off a match point in the second round and knocked off top-seeded Maria Kirilenko of Russia 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 in the semifinal on Friday.

She's the first South African woman to win a title since Amanda Coetzer at Acapulco, Mexico, in 2003.

"The title means a lot to me because I've worked so hard, to finally win one is really rewarding," she said. "Being the first since Amanda is the cherry on the cake."

In Seoul, South Korea, Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan will take on Spain's Maria-Jose Martinez Sanchez in the final of the US$220,000 Hansol Open today.

Both strolled through yesterday's semifinals in straight sets on the hard courts at Seoul's Olympic Park.

Voskoboeva defeated Slovenia's fifth-seeded Polona Hercog 6-1, 6-4 in a match lasting 91 minutes. Hercog was the highest-seeded player left in a tournament.

Martinez Sanchez is seeded sixth and needed just 67 minutes to beat Czech Klara Zakopalova 6-3, 6-2.

The Spaniard is looking for a fifth career title and second of 2011 after winning at Bad Gastein, Austria. Today will be Voskoboeva's first appearance in a WTA singles final.

 

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