Ashlyn Krueger captures 1st WTA title at Japan Open

Ashlyn Krueger captures 1st WTA title at Japan Open

Sports

Ranked No. 123 in the world, Krueger, 19, entered the week without a main-draw win on hard court

Quebec, Canada (Reuters) - American teen Ashlyn Krueger didn't lose a set the entire tournament in capturing her first WTA Tour title with a 6-3, 7-6 (6) upset of top seed Zhu Lin on Sunday at the Japan Open in Osaka.

Ranked No. 123 in the world, Krueger, 19, entered the week without a main-draw win on hard court this year and had never advanced past a quarterfinal of a WTA event.

China's Zhu, ranked No. 35, became just the second top-50 player to lose to the Dallas resident in her young career. This was the pair's first meeting and Krueger's 11th main-draw appearance.

Krueger had the edge in aces, 7-3, and never had to save a break point in the 96-minute match. She broke Zhu on her first service game of the match, and Zhu was 1-for-2 in saving break points.

"I think I was very aggressive today, playing a lot of really aggressive tennis and using my serve," said Krueger, who recorded 28 winners to 13 for her opponent. "I think I just stayed mentally tough the whole time. Lots of aggressive shots and trusting in myself."