Riske wins first WTA title
TIANJIN, China (AP) – Alison Riske of Peters Township held on to defeat Belinda Bencic 6-3, 6-4 in the final of the Tianjin Open Sunday for her first WTA Tour title.
The sixth-seeded American led 6-3, 4-1, but Bencic fought back to level the match at 4-4 and held a break point to go up 5-4.
The 24-year-old Riske saved the break point, though, and captured the final two games to close out the match.
“It’s a huge accomplishment for me to win my first WTA title,” she said. “I was here by myself, which made it even more special, just to know that I was able to do it by myself. I hope I can keep up the momentum and try to compete every week as best as I can.”
The 17-year-old Bencic was attempting to become the youngest winner on the WTA Tour since 15-year-old Tamira Paszek captured the Portoroz title in 2006.
The third-seeded Swiss was also playing in the first WTA final of her career.
Both players eliminated Chinese opponents in the semifinals Saturday. Riske won the first nine games en route to a 6-0, 6-1 rout of Zheng Saisai, while Bencic advanced when hometown favorite Peng Shuai retired with a lower back injury while trailing 3-1.