Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino breezes past Alexandra Panova to win the title–XX Copa BBVA Colsanitas 2012
In the final showdown between two unseeded players, Spanish competitor Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino got the better of the Russian Challenger, Alexandra Panova, in straight sets at the XX Copa BBVA Colsanitas 2012 on Sunday. She not only stole the show by registering
a 6-2, 7-5 victory but also lifted her maiden career title at this WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) International tournament taking place in Bogota, Colombia.
The 19-year-old displayed top notch performance at her third WTA main draw appearance. Apart from inching closer to the exit doors in the opening round, she blasted past her rivals in straight sets to book this final spot. The Spaniard outshined the 22-year-old
in an hour and 18-minutes long marathon and grabbed her maiden title at this clay court tournament.
"Before the tournament, if someone had told me I would win the title, I wouldn't believe them. And I almost lost first round, too. It was really tough to get used to the conditions but after I came back to win that first match I got more and more confident
I love this court. I love it here. This is a very special title for me," the Spanish youngster commented in a post-match conference.
World number 105, Arruabarrena-Vecino, stormed at the Club Campestre El Rancho and wiped out the opening four games in a row before Panova could hold on. She then maintained consistency in her remaining serves and ultimately begged the opener with a 6-2
win.
The teenager kept momentum sailing into the following set and earned the desiderated break in the opening game. Regardless of losing her serve in the follow-up game, she broke the Russian’s serve again and went 3-1 up. Arruabarrena-Vecino was not consistent
in this set but after exchanging two more serve breaks, she sealed the set by winning seven games to five.
The Spanish starlet was not the only one to rise and shine. After crushing Romania’s Edina Gallovits-Hall in the semis-finals Arruabarrena-Vecino was on brink of her first title, but there was a combatant in her midst. Panova, on the other side of the draw,
also escaped scare of exiting in the opening round. However, she rebounded with a fitting reply and reached the final spot.
Arruabarrena-Vecino said about her rival, "Alexandra has been playing so well this week, so I knew it would be tough and I would need to run a lot.”
In spite of losing in the title-round, the Russian happily exited the tournament as claimed the doubles title with Eva Birnerova of the Czech Republic.
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