SAN DIEGO (AP) — Unseeded Katie Boulter of England capped a run of upsets to win the San Diego Open singles title with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 victory over sixth-seeded Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine on Sunday.
A ten-year tour veteran, the 27-year-old Boulter received her second professional singles title together with her fifth straight victory over higher-seeded gamers within the week-long WTA 500 occasion.
“I can’t cease smiling,” Boulter stated. “I’ve been wanting this my entire profession and now I’ve bought to maneuver my goalposts and preserve it going.”
As darkness fell early within the match — twice delayed by intermittent showers — each gamers appeared to battle whereas adjusting to the unseasonably cool, windy and drizzly situations with temperatures within the mid-50s.
In her San Diego Open debut, Boulter shook off a flurry of early first-set unforced errors, initially flustered by Kostyuk’s quickness and athleticism. However displaying indicators of resilience that may later serve her effectively, Boulter overcame 5 set factors earlier than she despatched an errant forehand previous the baseline to fall 7-5.
Undeterred, Boulter discovered her rhythm en path to successful the second set, which was marked by livid backcourt rallies.
About half-hour later, Boulter was serving for the match at 5-2 when she struck a crosscourt forehand simply out of Kostyuk’s attain to present her the title.
“I don’t even know the place to start, I’m so comfortable,” stated Boulter, who’s 6-1 in opposition to seeded opponents this 12 months. “Once I got here right here, I actually didn’t suppose I’d be holding this trophy. Everybody right here has been so heat and welcoming to me.”
Referring to her 21-year-old opponent, Boulter added: “You’re so younger and so gifted, Marta. I do know your time will come.”
Kostyuk paid tribute to her household in Ukraine after the match.
“I don’t wish to make this too unhappy, however initially, I wish to say hey to my household again in Ukraine,” she stated. “It’s been a troublesome time for them and I don’t know what’s going to occur tomorrow, however there’s nobody who desires me to win greater than they do.”
Boulter, who stated the cool situations made her really feel at house, was awarded a ceremonial surfboard — a nod to the occasion’s shut proximity to the Pacific Ocean.
“Sorry I didn’t get the surfboard this 12 months,” Kostyuk stated. “However perhaps I’ll get one subsequent 12 months.”
Held on the Barnes Tennis Heart, the San Diego Open is a WTA Tour 500 occasion with a complete purse of $922,573, introduced by Cymbiotika.
