Sunday 14 September 2014 17:20, UK
Sabine Lisicki landed her first WTA title in three years by defeating Karolina Pliskova in the final of the Hong Kong Open on Sunday.
The former Wimbledon finalist, whose last title came back in Dallas in 2011, sealed victory in straight sets against the 36th-ranked Czech 7-5 6-3.
Pliskova squandered a 5-1 lead in the match after she twice broke the top-seeded German in the first set before losing the next six games.
The big-hitting Lisicki fired five aces in the second set and twice broke her Czech opponent's serve, in the fourth and eight games, to clinch the final in just under 90 minutes.
It was Lisicki's third victory against Pliskova this year after victories at the All England Club and at the Madrid Open.
"After being in three finals last year and losing them closely, this is a big step forward for me," Lisicki told the WTA Tour's official website.
"I've won titles in doubles but obviously the main goal is to play well in singles and get these trophies. And I'm even happier because coming here was such a spontaneous decision - we literally decided three or four days before the tournament - and I felt very well all week in Hong Kong."
