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Bencic stuns Radwanska in Eastbourne to claim maiden title

June 27, 2015 22:30 IST

- At 18 years and 109 days, Bencic is the youngest player to win a premier-level title since Caroline Wozniacki won in New Haven almost seven years ago

- Uzbek Istomin wins men’s title

Switzerland'S Belinda Bencic celebrates with the trophy after defeating Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska in the Aegon International final at Devonshire Park in Eastbourne, England, on Saturday

Switzerland's Belinda Bencic celebrates with the trophy after defeating Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska in the Aegon International final at Devonshire Park in Eastbourne, England, on Saturday. Photograph: Ben Hoskins/Getty Images for LTA

Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic beat Agnieszka Radwanska in the final of the Eastbourne grasscourt tournament on Saturday to claim her first WTA title and become the youngest player since 2008 to clinch a premier-level trophy.

Bencic, 18, romped through the deciding set to clinch the title with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 victory which further underlined her good form on grass ahead of Wimbledon which starts on Monday.

Bencic, ranked 31st in the world, reached the final of the Den Bosch event in the Netherlands at the start of the month. She will begin her Wimbledon campaign against Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova.

Belinda Bencic in action

Switzerland's Belinda Bencic in action during the final. Photograph: Henry Browne/Action Images via Reuters Livepic

Radwanska, a former champion at Eastbourne and Wimbledon runner-up in 2012, collapsed in the final set having clawed her way back into the contest as her opponent played near flawless tennis.

"This is one of the biggest days of my life, it's a dream come true," Bencic said.

"I am so happy. It's incredible. I will never forget this."

At 18 years and 109 days, Bencic is the youngest player to win a premier-level title since Caroline Wozniacki won in New Haven almost seven years ago.

Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin poses with the trophy after beating American Sam Querrey to win the men's singles title at the Aegon Open at Nottingham Tennis Centre on Saturday

Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin poses with the trophy after beating American Sam Querrey to win the men's singles title at the Aegon Open at Nottingham Tennis Centre on Saturday. Photograph: Jan Kruger/Getty Images for LTA

In the men's grasscourt event in Nottingham, Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin claimed his first ATP title by beating Sam Querrey of the United States 7-6(1), 7-6(6).

Istomin, ranked 92nd in the world, survived a second-set rally from Querrey who came back from 5-2 down to force a second tiebreak.

Istomin was broken twice while serving for the match at 5-2 and 5-4 and then lost five of the first six points in the tiebreak.

The Uzbek, however, won seven of the last eight points to take the trophy.

Source: REUTERS
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