HOBART, Australia (AP) — Qualifier Mona Barthel of Germany won her eighth straight match at the Hobart International, defeating top-seeded Yanina Wickmayer 6-1, 6-2 Saturday for her first WTA Tour title.
The 21-year-old Barthel, ranked 64th, finished with an ace on match point. She had a first-serve percentage of 82 percent in the final.
Barthel also beat second-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues, No. 4 seed Angelique Kerber and Australian fifth seed and defending champion Jarmila Gajdosova.
Barthel, who won three qualifying and five maindraw matches at Hobart, will play her doubles partner Anne Keothavong in the first round of the Australian Open in Melbourne.
