Donna Vekic won the Women's Tennis Association's (WTA) Final at the AEGON Open in Nottingham earlier today by beating Brit Johanna Konta in three sets, 2-6, 7-6, 7-5 in a scintillating encounter.
Konta dominates opening set
The Brit took no time settling into this match as she broke in the opening game to go 1-0 up. She then managed to hold to go 2-0 up despite significant pressure from Vekic. Konta then held her serve again before failing to convert four break points in the fifth game as Vekic managed to eventually hold to make it 3-2.
However, Konta did not let this affect her game as she held to make it 4-2 despite Vekic having chances to break herself. She was left to rue these missed opportunities as Konta broke again in the following game to make it 5-2 with her first break point. The Brit then held her serve once again with a perfect service game to take the opening set 6-2 and put herself in the driving seat.
A tight second set swings Vekic's way
Vekic started the second set by holding her serve and had a great chance to break in the second game. She found herself 0-30 up on Konta's serve but the Brit eventually managed to hold after an epic rally. Vekic then managed to hold and then broke in the following game with her first break point to go 3-1 up. However, Konta responded to this by breaking straight back with her second break point due to a double fault from Vekic to make it 3-2.
Five consecutive holds followed but Vekic could not take advantage of a break point in the tenth game as Konta managed to hold and level the set up at 5-5. The second set then went to a tie break after finishing 6-6 but Vekic did not convert either of her two break points in the final game. However, this did not matter as Vekic went on to win the tie break convincingly 7-3 and take the second set 7-6.
Heartbreak for Konta as Vekic steps up
Vekic was visibly upbeat after levelling the match up at 1-1 after the second set and this momentum followed her into the third set. She immediately broke Konta's serve as the Brit was left frustrated by some dubious decisions. Four consecutive holds of serve followed as Vekic remained 3-2 ahead. However, in the following game Konta got back into the set by taking advantage of her first break point to level the set at 3-3.
This was followed by another four consecutive holds of serve involving perfect service games and aces from both players to level the game at 5-5. The turning point in the set came in the eleventh game as Vekic was able to break Konta's serve at the second time of asking to take a 6-5 lead and have the chance to serve for the title. Vekic managed to take advantage of her first match point as she took the third set 7-5 and the match 2-1 in an absorbing encounter.