Tennis: Kudermetova beats Pegula to win Pan Pacific Open
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The 19th-ranked Kudermetova overwhelmed the American 7-5, 6-1 in an hour and 24 minutes
TOKYO (AFP) – Russia's Veronika Kudermetova won the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Sunday, upsetting tennis' world number four Jessica Pegula in straight sets.
The 19th-ranked Kudermetova overwhelmed the American 7-5, 6-1 in an hour and 24 minutes.
"I knew it would be a tough final... I need to fight for every ball and today it worked really well," said the 26-year-old.
"I'm really happy that I managed to win my second title."
She beat Pegula in three sets on the clay in Madrid this year.
Kudermetova had a tough semi-final, needing three hours and 25 minutes to defeat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
She stunned four-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek in the quarters.
Pegula was aiming for her second title of the season following victory last month in Montreal.
The 29-year-old went into the US Open dreaming of a first ever Grand Slam title, but her campaign came to an abrupt halt as compatriot and close friend Madison Keys recorded a dominant win in just 61 minutes.
