Mona Barthel wins Prague Open for 4th WTA title
PRAGUE - Qualifier Mona Barthel of Germany rallied to win the Prague Open on Saturday, beating unseeded Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic 2-6, 7-5, 6-2.
Barthel broke Pliskova for a 4-2 lead in the final set before converting her second match point for her fourth WTA title and the first since 2014.
''I can't believe it,'' Barthel said. ''Somehow, I made it. I'm completely exhausted.''
The 82nd-ranked Barthel saved three match points in the second round of qualifying on her way to victory in the final.
Barthel dropped her serve Saturday to go 3-4 down in the second set but she got a break back in the following game. The German wasted a set point at 5-4 but converted her second set point to take the set 7-5.
Barthel improved her record against the 58th-ranked Czech to 2-1.
In the first set, Barthel dropped her serve in the opening game with two straight double faults. Pliskova broke her twice more before serving out the set.
''I'm sorry I didn't make it,'' said Pliskova who was seeking her second WTA title.