France's Caroline Garcia holds the trophy after beating Croatia's Donna Vekic, to win the women's singles final during day nine of the Nottingham Cup Open tennis championship in Nottingham, England, Sunday June 16, 2019. (Tim Goode/PA via AP)
The Associated Press
NOTTINGHAM, England (AP) - Caroline Garcia of France defeated former champion Donna Vekic 2-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4) to win her first title of the year at the Nottingham Open on Sunday.
Top-seeded Garcia, who finished her 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 semifinal victory over American Jennifer Brady earlier Sunday, recovered after losing the first set to outlast the 2017 winner over more than 2 ˆ½ hours.
It was the 28th-ranked Garcia's seventh career title and her second on grass after her win in Mallorca in 2016.
Both players hit seven aces and Vekic converted all four of her break points, with Garcia going 2-for-2 on break points.
The rain finally held off after ravaging much of the rest of the tournament. The opening two days were completely washed out before organizers decided to switch the first and second round matches indoors, while Vekic's quarterfinal against Kristina Mladenovic started on grass but had to be completed indoors on Friday.
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France's Caroline Garcia kisses the trophy after beating Croatia's Donna Vekic, to win the women's singles final during day nine of the Nottingham Cup Open tennis championship in Nottingham, England, Sunday June 16, 2019. (Tim Goode/PA via AP)
The Associated Press
France's Caroline Garcia celebrates beating Croatia's Donna Vekic, to win the women's singles final during day nine of the Nottingham Cup Open tennis championship in Nottingham, England, Sunday June 16, 2019. (Tim Goode/PA via AP)
The Associated Press
France's Caroline Garcia against Croatia's Donna Vekic in the women's singles final during day nine of the Nottingham Cup Open tennis championship in Nottingham, England, Sunday June 16, 2019. Garcia went on to win the trophy. (Tim Goode/PA via AP)
The Associated Press
Croatia's Donna Vekic in action against France's Caroline Garcia during the women's singles final during day nine of the Nottingham Cup Open tennis championship in Nottingham, England, Sunday June 16, 2019. Garcia went on to win the final. (Tim Goode/PA via AP)
The Associated Press