Qualifier Fujiwara upsets top seed Linette to clinch title

Mumbai: Qualifier and seasoned campaigner Rika Fujiwara of Japan saved two match points to stun top seed Magda Linette of Poland and win the singles title at the USD 25,000 Ganesh Naik ITF women's tennis championships here today.

In the finals held at Vashi in Navi Mumbai, old warhorse Rika Fujiwara won her seventh match on the trot as she fought back from 3-5 (15-40) in the third set to win the final with a 3-6, 7-6(7-4), 7-6(7-5) scoreline.

The match lasted two hours 40 minutes. The 32-year-old Japanese, who won her last ITF event in Pune four years ago, played aggressively - rushing to the net on numerous occasions - and unnerving her opponent 12 years younger to her.

The former world No.84 and current national champion of her country saved two match points in the eighth game of the third set with a brilliant cross court volley and a back hand smash and then held on to her ninth game to level scores at 5-5.

Both players then held on to serves forcing a tiebreak. The experienced Japanese attacked her younger rival on her backhand and moving to the net to create points. She completed the memorable victory with a forehand shot to pocket the top prize of USD 3,919 and 50 WTA points.

Runner up Linette got USD 2,100 and 32 points.