TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (AP) β Nao Hibino of Japan cruised past Croatia’s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-2 Saturday to win the Tashkent Open final.
Hibino’s pace caused problems as Vekic appeared increasingly frustrated by a lively crowd in the capital of Uzbekistan.
The 21-year-old Hibino, ranked 117th in the world, held serve throughout and took advantage of nine double faults from Vekic to break her 19-year-old opponent twice in each set.
Hibino’s only previous appearances in a WTA main draw came last month, when she reached the second round at the Japan Women’s Open and Dalian Open.
Vekic, who is ranked 137th after a disappointing season, drops to 1-3 in career WTA finals, with her last win coming at the 2014 Malaysian Open.
