MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Qualifier Garbine Muguruza of Spain defeated Klara Zakapalova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-0 to win the Hobart International on Saturday, her first WTA singles title.
The 20-year-old Muguzura, who did not drop a set from the qualifiers to the final, joins 2012 champion Mona Barthel as the only qualifiers to win the Hobart event.
Muguruza, ranked 58th, beat second-seeded and Wimbledon semifinalist Kirsten Flipkens in the quarterfinals, while Zakapalova defeated top-seeded and former U.S. Open champion Sam Stosur in the semis.
Muguruza won the opening set when she broke Zakapalova’s service in the 10th game.
The Venezuelan-born Muguruza has a first-round match against Kaia Kanepi of Estonia at the Australian Open.
