By Tennis Now | Sunday, September 13, 2020
Patricia Maria Tig fought off Genie Bouchard 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(4) to win her first career title at the TEB BNP Paribas Tennis Championship Istanbul.
Photo credit: TEB BNP Paribas Tennis Championship Istanbul Facebook
Patricia Maria Tig turned championship Sunday into a mother's day celebration.
Tig fought off a late charge from Genie Bouchard converting her eighth championship point completing a 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(4) to win her first career title on the red clay of the TEB BNP Paribas Tennis Championship Istanbul.
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Contesting her third career final, Tig completed a career milestone.
Tig, who gave birthday to daughter Sofia in November of 2018, continued a trend of memorable marches from moms the day after mom Victoria Azarenka bowed to Naomi Osaka in the US Open singles final and a couple of days after mother Vera Zvonareva partnered Laura Siegemund to claim the US Open doubles championship. Tig joins Azarenka and Serena Williams as the third mom to win a WTA singles title this year.
World No. 272 Bouchard was bidding to become the lowest-ranked qualifier to win a WTA title. Bouchard, who spent nearly nine hours on court scoring six tournament wins, looked weary midway through the second set but still staved off six championship points to force the tie breaker.
The 26-year-old Romanian dropped her lone set of the tournament in the opening set and responded winning 10 of the next 12 games to open a 2-6, 6-1, 4-1 lead.
Tig converted three of of six break points streaking through the 38-minute second set to force a decider.
A revved up Tig held to start the final set then caught a break as her net-cord shot coaxed Bouchard to net an awkward slice forehand earning the break for 2-0.
Tig was fired up charging out to a 4-1 lead, while Bouchard seemed to be running on fumes as she faced double break point in the sixth game.
The former Wimbledon finalist found her second wind, staved off both break points to hold. In the next game, Tig offered a lifeline in a pair of double faults. Bouchard smacked a swing volley winner then pasted the baseline with a deep drive breaking back for 3-4.
Jitters were spiking in both women as Tig spun back a deep return that handcuffed the Canadian. Tig rattled out the error break right back for 5-3—and the chance to serve out her first WTA title.
Credit Bouchard for fighting off three championship points as the Romanian missed two forehands then put a slice backhand into net.
The Canadian qualifier came forward knocking off a high backhand volley for a break point. But Bouchard slapped a return into net. On her second break point, Bouchard broke back for 4-5 as Tig scattered a backhand wide. Bouchard saved three more championship points forcing the tie breaker.
That's when Tig took control to close a memorable victory.