No. 8 seed Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine defeated Russia’s Varvara Gracheva 6-3, 7-5 in the final of the ATX Open to win her first WTA title on Sunday in Austin, Texas.
Kostyuk, who has been outspoken about what her nation has been through during Russia’s invasion and war in the region, dedicated her victory to Ukraine and “to all the people who are dying and fighting right now.”
Kostyuk won despite committing nine double faults without an ace. Gracheva converted five of six break points, but Kostyuk broke Gracheva’s serve eight times in 15 opportunities.
Abierto GNP Seguros
No. 3 seed Donna Vekic of Croatia battled past No. 1 seed Caroline Garcia of France to win 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in Monterrey, Mexico.
Vekic served up 13 aces while saving a remarkable 14 of 16 break points. Garcia, conversely, had 15 aces but failed to save any of the three break points she faced, including down 6-5 in the third set.
Vekic won her fourth career title and will rise to No. 24 in the WTA rankings on Monday.
–Field Level Media