KiKi Bertens Battles Through Five Sets In One Day To Reign As Charleston Volvo Car Champion • Tennis10sBalls

Introducing the new #Charleston queen of clay, @kikibertens! Congrats on the sweet new hardware! – Photo by @VolvoCarOpen via Twitter.

 

 

On the hardest and most physically demanding of surfaces against some of the toughest circumstances in tennis, 14th-seeded Kiki Bertens claimed the biggest title of her career, winning two matches in one day to claim the Volvo Car Open title. After rain cancelled play Saturday, the Dutch clay-court specialist fought off injury and two well-accomplished, powerful opponents in Madison Keys and Julia Goerges to hoist the trophy in Charleston.

 

On an unusually cool spring morning on Daniel Island, it was Bertens who handled the balmy temperatures and early start time to overcome 2015 finalist Keys 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 in the first semifinal of the day, a lengthy two hour and 40 minute affair.

 

Bertens’ reward for fending off match points against last year’s US Open runner-up? A final clash with big-hitting German Julia Goerges, who spent half the time Bertens did on court in her routine 7-6, 6-3 semifinal win over Anastasija Sevastova.

 

Seeking the biggest title of her career on the green clay of the Family Circle Tennis Center, the 26 year-old came out red-hot, utilizing her power game perfectly in a dominant 6-2 opening set that saw her lose serve just once.

 

Bertens continued to fire on all cylinders, playing a flawless second set, losing just five points on her serve to close out Goerges and claim her first WTA Premier title here in Charleston.

 

The Dutchwoman was ecstatic following her biggest career triumph and will move to an impressive 21 in the world, just three spots off her career high of 18.

 

“It’s just unbelievable. I think I cannot really realize it yet, but I’m just so happy and proud I think of myself,” said the 2016 Roland Garros semifinalist. “It’s a great start of the clay court season, and yeah, hopefully still more to come, but this one I have already and I’m really happy with that.”

 

The women’s clay court season continues with the tour making the transition from the green clay of Charleston to the next big event in a few weeks time on the indoor red clay of Stuttgart.