Russia’s Elena Vesnina has overcome defending champion Mona Barthel in a spectacular display of tennis to win her first of 7 WTA final appearances at the Moorilla Hobart International.
Vesnina had a picture-perfect start to the first set, overcoming the shaky-looking defending champion to get an early break and take a 2-0 lead. The German, who has had a record-breaking 12 match winning streak at the tournament, battled with her first serve giving the Russian a chance to race ahead at the commencement of the match.
“I feel such a relief and I just want to cry honestly. I’m so happy that I won the final and I think in general I was pretty good. I didn’t pressure myself at all I just went onto court and was thinking that this is my time, I have to do it and if I get a chance I have to use that chance,” an emotional Vesnina said post-match.
The Russian, who made her sixth appearance here in Hobart, was unstoppable persevering with solid ground strokes and indestructible determination. At 3-5 the pressure was on Barthel to serve to stay in the set but the energetic world No.68 dashed her chances, closing with flare to take the first 6-3.
“My plan for the game was to attack her second serve.
“My dad, he was watching a little bit of her matches during the whole week and he told me that I have to do that to her second serve and I have to be aggressive during the whole point, try to control the point, move her round and use my ground shots, my favourite shot,” she said.
Vesnina kept up the momentum in the opening game of the second surging forward without dropping a point. The set continued on serve before the world No. 32 lifted her game returning to her famous solid baseline strokes to take a 2-1 lead. Just when it seemed Barthel had finally found her rhythm in the match, the gutsy Russian broke back and the game back on serve at 2-2.
“When I was 1-0 up I thought that I found the key already to win this match but then Mona played 2 incredible games, she made a few really good serves and I was down 1-2 with a break and I was really upset with that.
“Thank God I played the game pretty good and I came back to 2 all. I was just trying to keep more percentages in my first serve,” she said.
3-3 saw the longest game of the match with Barthel teeing off on her forehand to achieve a break point. The Russian struggled with the wind receiving a time violation for delaying the game between points. The score tipped between deuce and advantage before Vesnina finally threw an ace down the line under pressure to achieve a 4-3 lead.
“I got that time violation today because I was taking a little bit too long between my serves but it was just because I toss the ball pretty high, this is just my technique,” she added.
The match continued on serve with the Russian throwing a well-executed backhand down the line to hold and take the score to 5-4. The heat was on Barthel to remain in the match and keep the chance of defending her title alive.
When asked if she was disappointed post-match the former champion was gracious in defeat.
“She played really well today and I think she deserved to win. I’m happy with this week and I’m just looking forward to going to the Australian Open now.”
Vesnina grew in confidence with her determination visible for all to see as she stepped it up a notch to finally overcome her higher ranker opponent and win her first of seven WTA finals appearances.
“I want to share my happiness and all this joy with all the people who came and have been supporting me. I feel very thankful to them,” Vesnina added.
By Rosie Jones.