$220,000/International, Hard/Indoors
Results – Sunday, September 18, 2011
Singles – Final
(6) Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) d. Marina Erakovic (NZL) 4-6, 6-1, 6-0
Doubles – Final
(1) Kops-Jones/Spears (USA/USA) d. Hampton/Tatishvili (USA/GEO) 61 36 106 (Match TB)
Final Facts
- Zahlavova Strycova wins her first WTA title (she is now 1-1 in WTA finals); she already had 14 WTA doubles titles to her name (14-9 in WTA doubles finals).
- Zahlavova Strycova rises from No.75 to No.49 this week (career-high is No.39).
- Erakovic was playing in her first WTA final (her best WTA results before this week were three semifinals, all coming during the 2008 season).
- Erakovic rises from No.85 to No.63 this week (career-high is No.49).
- Zahlavova Strycova and Erakovic were playing each other for the first time.
- Kops-Jones and Spears win their second WTA doubles title together (they also won Estoril two years ago); Kops-Jones now has four WTA doubles titles to her name, Spears six.
Final Quotes
Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, 2011 Bell Challenge singles champion:
“After the first set I changed my strategy. I could see she was very tired after the first set so I started putting more balls in the court and making her run. In the first set she was playing very good, but I could see she started to make more mistakes. It felt like she was breaking down.”
“Once it got to the third set I was just in the zone. It felt like everything I hit was going in. I saw the ball so big. I just knew I was going to win the match.”
“This week was just like a fairytale. I was very tired coming here. I played so many tournaments in the summer and didn’t play well, so this just gives me so much confidence.”
Marina Erakovic, 2011 Bell Challenge singles runner-up:
“This final does hurt. It’s disappointing. But after a couple of days I’ll be fine and will look back and see the positives. I had a lot of good wins this week and am playing some good tennis. There’s lots of improvement to make, and if I keep working hard there will be a lot more finals.”
Tournament Website
www.challengebell.com
