Tennis: Breakthrough win for Niculescu in Brazil

The world number 75 unsettled the hard-hitting Puchkova with a range of slices, angles and drop shots.

BRAZIL: Romania’s Monica Niculescu captured her first career singles title with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 win over Olga Puchkova of Russia in the final of the Brazil Cup at Florianopolis on Saturday.

The world number 75 unsettled the hard-hitting Puchkova, who defeated Venus Williams in the semi-finals, with a range of slices, angles and drop shots. Niculescu, who saved three match points against Spaniard Anibel Medina Garrigues in her first round match when she was 6-3 down in a second set tie-break, said she was hugely relieved to have finally won a WTA Tour title after two previous losses in finals.

“I competed in two finals before and lost to (Victoria) Azarenka and Venus, and today I finally managed to win one — I’m so happy,” said Niculescu.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2013.