Tennis: Garrigues clinches fifth Palermo title

PALERMO: Spain’s Anabel Medina Garrigues clinched her fifth Palermo claycourt title when she defeated Slovenia’s Polona Hercog 6-3, 6-2 in the final. Medina Garrigues, who also won in Sicily in 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2006, now has 10 career claycourt titles, one better than Venus Williams among active players. This final was the 20-year-old Hercog’s second in a week, having won the Bastad event in Sweden last Sunday. Her level of domination of a single WTA event – five titles – has only been achieved by three other active players: Venus Williams (Wimbledon), Serena Williams (Australian Open and Miami) and Kim Clijsters (Luxembourg).

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2011.