The Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina registered the biggest win of her career when she rallied for a 3-6 6-2 6-2 triumph over Sloane Stephens in the WTA Finals title decider.
Svitolina had arrived in Singapore woefully out of form, but the baseliner gathered momentum as the tournament progressed, winning all three pool matches and semi-final before subduing a fast-starting Stephens.
"This is a very special moment for me in my career and it will give me plenty of confidence for the season coming ahead, I am really pleased with my performance," Svitolina said as she received the Billie Jean King trophy.
Stephens settled the quicker against a nervous-looking Svitolina, breaking at the first opportunity to lay down an early marker.
After a lacklustre start, however, Svitolina began warming to her task and found some range and depth to fashion two break-back points but Stephens' forehand was dialled in and she moved 3-0 ahead when the Ukrainian's backhand faltered.
Svitolina finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth game but the American continued to pound away at the corners to maintain her break advantage.
Svitolina held another tight service game to stay alive in the opener, but Stephens sealed the set when her opponent could only find the net with a backhand.
It was Svitolina's turn to make the initial breakthrough in the second set when she capitalised on untidy play from Stephens to edge a break ahead.
The Ukrainian was pumping her fist enthusiastically after every winning point as her opponent suddenly appeared lethargic, her energetic play rewarded with a third break of the set to send the contest into a decider.
The world No.7 was dictating terms as a leaden-footed Stephens struggled to match Svitolina's relentless pace and once the Ukrainian moved 3-0 ahead after edging two epic games, the American could sense her chances were slipping away.
Stephens made one final effort to fight back, but Svitolina kept the points long to force her opponent into unforced errors as she sought winners and wrapped up a memorable victory when Stephens skewed a backhand wide.
"I am super happy that I was able to finish off the season the way I did. Obviously, it was not the result I wanted but I worked really hard to get here, am proud of my play and really pleased with what I did this week," Stephens said.
Svitolina's triumph was her 13th victory in 15 finals and should fill her full of confidence as she looks to make a Grand Slam breakthrough in 2019.
Reuters
