Shnaider defeats Vekic to win Bad Homburg Open

Diana Shnaider won her first WTA title on grass, defeating Donna Vekic 6-3 2-6 6-3 in the Bad Homburg Open final on Saturday, just days before making her Wimbledon singles main draw debut.

In a thrilling first set, Russia's Shnaider made a clinical start to lead 3-1 before Croatian Vekic's powerful returns forced her to work hard to hold every serve.

Shnaider saved two break points as she led 5-2 after seven deuces before the Russian could hold. Her next serve was also a long battle, with Vekic saving three set points, but Shnaider rallied from seven break points and landed an ace to take the set.

Vekic had the momentum going into the second set, and she quickly got her first break of the match to go 2-0 up before breaking again to send the match to the final set.

The third set started on an even keel, with both players breaking early, but the 20-year-old Shnaider remained composed under pressure, breaking Vekic's serve twice in a row to seal victory.

"Very glad I was able to play one of the best weeks of my life... hope I can keep going like this," Shnaider said after lifting the tournament's elephant-shaped trophy, her second career title.

"What a match you played... you really deserved the title," Vekic, who lost her second WTA final on grass, told Shnaider. "I got the small (elephant) this time and next year we will come back for the big one."

Vekic will play Wang Xiyu in the first round of Wimbledon on Monday, while Shnaider, who was eliminated in the qualifiers last year, will face Karolina Pliskova.

SportsLigue