Ruse wins Hamburg European Open for 1st title
HAMBURG, Germany (AP) - Romanian qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse won her first title Sunday with a 7-6 (6), 6-4 victory over Andrea Petkovic in the Hamburg European Open final.
The 23-year-old Ruse is the lowest-ranked WTA winner at No. 198 since No. 299 Margarita Gasparyan won in Tashkent in 2018.
Ruse saved two set points in the first set and came back from trailing 3-0 in the second to beat Petkovic in 2 hours, 12 minutes.
Germany's Petkovic reached her first final since 2015 with a win over Jule Niemeier in Saturday´s semifinals.
Ruse had rallied to beat top-seeded Dayana Yastremska 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 in their semifinal.
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Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse kisses the trophy after she defeated Germany's Andrea Petkovic during the 'Hamburg European Open' WTA Tour, singles, women, final tennis match in Hamburg, Germany, Sunday, July 11, 2021. (Axel Heimken/dpa via AP)
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Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse plays the ball during the 'Hamburg European Open' WTA Tour, singles, women, final tennis match against Germany's Andrea Petkovic in Hamburg, Germany, Sunday, July 11, 2021. (Axel Heimken/dpa via AP)
Germany's Andrea Petkovic plays the ball during the 'Hamburg European Open' WTA Tour, singles, women, final tennis match against Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse in Hamburg, Germany, Sunday, July 11, 2021. (Axel Heimken/dpa via AP)
Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse plays the ball during the 'Hamburg European Open' WTA Tour, singles, women, final tennis match against Germany's Andrea Petkovic in Hamburg, Germany, Sunday, July 11, 2021. (Axel Heimken/dpa via AP)
Germany's Andrea Petkovic plays the ball during the 'Hamburg European Open' WTA Tour, singles, women, final tennis match against Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse in Hamburg, Germany, Sunday, July 11, 2021. (Axel Heimken/dpa via AP)
Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse kisses the trophy after she defeated Germany's Andrea Petkovic during the 'Hamburg European Open' WTA Tour, singles, women, final tennis match in Hamburg, Germany, Sunday, July 11, 2021. (Axel Heimken/dpa via AP)
