Begu thrills home crowd with Bucharest crown
BUCHAREST, Romania - Irina-Camelia Begu ended the BRD Bucharest Open with a bang, capturing her home title with 6-3, 7-5 win over Julia Goerges.
The Romanian took control from the start of the match, and navigated through a tricky second set to seal the victory in one hour and 37 minutes on court.
Begu has long been a dangerous player on clay, reaching the quarterfinals of last year's Mutua Madrid Open and following that up with runs to the semis at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia and the second week of Roland Garros. But the Romanian had won her first three titles on hardcourts, most recently at the 2016 Brasil Tennis Cup in Florianopolis.
Later in the day, Begu and compatriot Raluca Olaru also raised the doubles trophy, defeating Elise Mertens and Demi Schuurs in the final, 6-3, 6-3.
"It is amazing. I never thought that I could win two trophies in one week, especially in Romania, in Bucharest, my hometown," Begu said. "It’s unbelievable. I am a little bit tired after so many hours spent on court. It’s tough. It was really hot this week here so, yes, I am tired, but happy in the same time. It was an amazing week for me."
Goerges has enjoyed similar success on the terre battue as a former Porsche Tennis Grand Prix champion, but has trended up on all surfaces this season with a run to her first grass court final at the Mallorca Open.
Playing at the tour's lone stop in Romania, the German had the unenviable task of taking on three straight hometown favorites, beating Alexandra Dulgheru and an on-fire Ana Bogdan en route to the championship match.
"Irina played a very solid match and she didn’t give me much time to create my shots," Goerges said in defeat. "She took control over the first set, but I always thought I had a chance to come back. I was a break up in the second set, but she was pushing me a lot and I have to give credit to her. She deserved to win today. She was the better player. It’s not always about the score, it’a about the way you’re playing and creating your points. She was creating very well and very smartly today.
"I tried my best and I tried to find a way to get out of it. Sometimes it happens...[but] it is up to you opponent as well, and she didn’t let me get back in the match, like I did the other days."
Begu, seeded No.7, took out No.2 seed Carla Suárez Navarro in straight sets to reach her first final of the season, and struck 18 winners to just 13 unforced errors to outlast an aggressive Goerges, who made 28 winners, but also 38 unforced errors.
Dropping serve just once in two sets, Begu is set move up to No.38 on the WTA rankings, returning to the Top 40 with Goerges not far behind at No.40.
"I want to thank to the people in the crowd for coming and supporting me from the beginning until the end," Begu said. "I hope to see them again next year.”
Source: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/irina-camelia-begu-romanian-star-wins-home-country-title-bucharest-goerges
The Romanian took control from the start of the match, and navigated through a tricky second set to seal the victory in one hour and 37 minutes on court.
 |
Hometown
favorite Irina-Camelia Begu captured her fourth career WTA title - and
first on clay - at the BRD Bucharest Open, dispatching an in-form Julia
Goerges in straight sets.
|
Later in the day, Begu and compatriot Raluca Olaru also raised the doubles trophy, defeating Elise Mertens and Demi Schuurs in the final, 6-3, 6-3.
"It is amazing. I never thought that I could win two trophies in one week, especially in Romania, in Bucharest, my hometown," Begu said. "It’s unbelievable. I am a little bit tired after so many hours spent on court. It’s tough. It was really hot this week here so, yes, I am tired, but happy in the same time. It was an amazing week for me."
Goerges has enjoyed similar success on the terre battue as a former Porsche Tennis Grand Prix champion, but has trended up on all surfaces this season with a run to her first grass court final at the Mallorca Open.
Playing at the tour's lone stop in Romania, the German had the unenviable task of taking on three straight hometown favorites, beating Alexandra Dulgheru and an on-fire Ana Bogdan en route to the championship match.
"Irina played a very solid match and she didn’t give me much time to create my shots," Goerges said in defeat. "She took control over the first set, but I always thought I had a chance to come back. I was a break up in the second set, but she was pushing me a lot and I have to give credit to her. She deserved to win today. She was the better player. It’s not always about the score, it’a about the way you’re playing and creating your points. She was creating very well and very smartly today.
"I tried my best and I tried to find a way to get out of it. Sometimes it happens...[but] it is up to you opponent as well, and she didn’t let me get back in the match, like I did the other days."
Begu, seeded No.7, took out No.2 seed Carla Suárez Navarro in straight sets to reach her first final of the season, and struck 18 winners to just 13 unforced errors to outlast an aggressive Goerges, who made 28 winners, but also 38 unforced errors.
Dropping serve just once in two sets, Begu is set move up to No.38 on the WTA rankings, returning to the Top 40 with Goerges not far behind at No.40.
"I want to thank to the people in the crowd for coming and supporting me from the beginning until the end," Begu said. "I hope to see them again next year.”
Source: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/irina-camelia-begu-romanian-star-wins-home-country-title-bucharest-goerges
Post a Comment