Olga Govortsova of Belarus beat No. 2 seed Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia Sunday.
The 24th Annual Dow Corning Tennis Classic concluded in Midland Sunday.
/ NBC 25
MIDLAND -- The 24th Annual Dow Corning Tennis Classic at the Midland Community Tennis Center concluded with championship singles and doubles matches in front of a sold-out crowd on Sunday. No. 7 seed Olga Govortsova of Belarus, who has won 7 WTA Tour doubles titles throughout her career, clinched the biggest singles title of her career by beating No. 2 seed Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia in a third-set tiebreaker. Meanwhile, in the doubles final, No. 1 seeds and 2011 French Open Champions Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka clinched the doubles title over Vesna Dolonts of Russia and Stephanie Foretz Gacon of France.
In the first match of the day, Govortsova served to stay in the match at 5-6 in the second set and fought off both of Rybarikova’s chances to serve out the match in the final set, rallying from 3-5 and 5-6 down to take the title with a 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (5) victory. The match, which took nearly three hours to complete, was the first career meeting between the two players.
“When I lost in the second set tiebreak, I said to myself that I have to start going for my shots more.” said Govortsova. “She was keeping the ball so low with the slice though, so it was really hard for me. I think that was the toughest final I’ve played.”
Govortsova reached the semifinals at her only other appearance in Midland in 2007. Currently ranked No. 96, she has been ranked as high as No. 35 in June 2008. She won her first ever main draw match at the Australian Open last month and said she is playing the best tennis of her career.
“I didn’t have such a good year last year, but this has been a great start (to 2012) for me so far,” said Govortsova.
Govortsova also won a winner’s check for $15,200, while Rybarikova took home a check for $8,107. Both Govortsova and Rybarikova will head off to the WTA event next week in Memphis, where main draw action will kick off next Monday. Rybarikova is the defending champion at that tournament.
“I’m just really sad now because the match was right there for me,” said Rybarikova. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a final like this before. I think it almost might be better to just get blown off the court than to lose like this.”
In the doubles final, No. 1 seeds and 2011 French Open doubles champions Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of Czech Republic defeated Vesna Dolonts of Russia and Stephanie Foretz Gacon of France 7-6 (4), 6-1. This tournament marked the first time that current Grand Slam title-holding doubles champions have competed in a USTA Pro Circuit event. Hlavackova/Hradecka also won the doubles title at the WTA event in Auckland last month before going on to reach the semifinals at this year’s Australian Open.
The Dow Corning Tennis Classic is in its 24th year on the USTA Pro Circuit, making it the longest-running women’s event on the USTA Pro Circuit. Several former competitors at the event have gone on to win Grand Slam titles and reach the top 10 in the rankings. Past competitors include seven-time Grand Slam singles champion and Olympic gold medalist Justine Henin, three-time Grand Slam singles champion Maria Sharapova, two-time Grand Slam singles champion Mary Pierce, 2011 French Open singles champion Na Li, 2010 French Open singles champion Francesca Schiavone, and two-time Grand Slam doubles champion Anna Kournikova.
