“It was a really tough match,” said Diyas, who reached her only previous final in Osaka three years ago. “I had to work for every point.” Diyas, who had wrist surgery last year, added: “It was really tough to come back so I’m really happy to be playing again and to win a title.”
Kato’s own improbable run to the final was a boost for organisers after the loss of all eight seeds and the early exit of local favourite Kimiko Date in her final tournament at the age of 46.
“I left everything out there,” said Kato after contesting her first WTA final. “I didn’t sleep until 2am and woke up feeling heavy. But I gave everything I had so there’s no regrets.” The Japan Women’s Open serves as the amuse-bouche for next week’s Pan Pacific Open tournament at the same venue, featuring Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza and several other top 10 players including Karolina Pliskova and Johanna Konta.
Van Uytvanck claims first WTA title in Quebec
Alison van Uytvanck came from a set down to claim her first WTA title at the expense of Timea Babos at the Coupe Banque Nationale on Sunday.
Seventh seed Van Uytvanck had not dropped a set since the opening round in Canada but was forced to battle back on her way to a 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 victory.
There was little between the two finalists in the opening nine games in Quebec City but Babos found another gear late in the set to move ahead – the Hungarian finally converting her fifth set point. Babos applied further pressure in Van Uytvanck’s first service game of the second set, but she wasted six break chances and that proved costly.
Van Uytvanck broke three games later and that was enough to enable her to level the match, and in the decider there was only going to be one winner. Babos’ composure deserted her as the world number 98 charged into a 4-0 lead, it could have been five but Van Uytvanck had to settle for a 6-1 victory to claim her maiden piece of silverware.
On Saturday, third-seeded Babos edged top-seeded Czech Lucie Safarova 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 to reach the final. Babos reached her second WTA final of the year, having captured her hometown title in Budapest with a win over Safarova in the final.
Seventh-seeded Van Uytvanck was a 6-1, 6-2 winner over Germany’s Tatjana Maria in the other semi-final. Van Uytvanck reached the first WTA final with a dominant performance.
