Sabine Lisicki has been crowned the singles champion at the 2009 Family Circle Cup.
The nineteen year-old German won her first career title with a tremendous 6-2, 6-4 win over Caroline Wozniacki.
Apart from a show of nerves late in the second set, Lisicki played the best tennis of her career. She blew five match points before a forehand crosscourt winner handed her the first title of her career.
“I really couldn’t believe I won, because I didn’t use my first match points,” Lisicki said after the match.
“I’ve worked so hard the last couple of weeks and months and it’s finally paying off. I knew I had the game to beat those players, and now I think I’m more mature to win the whole tournament.”
Lisicki, the sixteenth seed at the Premier tournament in Charleston, South Carolina dominated the draw all week, scoring wins over world No.5 Venus Williams in the third round and No.13 Marion Bartoli in the semifinals.
This was the first final between two teenagers at the Family Circle Cup since 1999 between Martina Hingis (then 18 years old) and Anna Kournikova (then 17 years old).
Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Nadia Petrova won their first Tour doubles title as a team together in Charleston by beating Liga Dekmeijere and Patty Schnyder 6-7(5), 6-2, 11-9 on Saturday.
Congratulations to Sabine! I already knew that she was talented, pretty, and a great fighter, but I think this victory proves that she is one of the fine young players making their way towards the very top of women’s tennis.