Image: GEPA pictures/ Manfred Binder (GEPA pictures)
The number 8 seeded Russian defeated the Croatian Petra Martic, who eliminated the top seeded Greek Maria Sakkari in the semifinals, clearly 6:3,6:1 after 76 minutes. For the only 21-year-old Potapova it was the second WTA title after Istanbul last year.
Potapova was of course very happy about that: “Wow, what a week. Thanks to Petra for the great final and thanks to my coach Igor Andreyev,” said the 1.75 m tall right-hander, who recently won the two million dollar -Breaked the prize money barrier in her career. To the Design Center, which was packed with around 2,000 fans, she said: “You have been incredible all week.”
Potapova is the first Russian Linz winner since Anastasia Pavljutschenkowa in 2015 and is also following in the footsteps of her famous compatriot Maria Sharapova (winner 2006) in Linz. For the title, Potapova collects a winner’s check of 29,760 euros and gets 280 WTA points. It improves to rank 31 and is higher than ever before. Martic receives 17,590 euros, 180 points and stays one position ahead of her conqueror in the world rankings.
Potapova had a classic false start and even had to fend off four breakballs at 0:2 to lose service again. But then the world number 44 caught herself. and turned the first round after breaks to 2: 2 and 5: 3 in their favor.
In the second set, the talented 21-year-old managed an early break to make it 2-1 and so she couldn’t be dissuaded from winning. It was a big disappointment for Martic in the sixth final of her career, she clearly missed her third WTA title. Still, she was fair in the end. “I want to congratulate Anastasia on a great week. She deserved the win.”
Source: Nachrichten
