By James Waterson Photo Credit: Karim Jaafar/AFP/Getty Images
(July 31, 2011) Nadia Petrova of Russia defeated top-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel 7-5, 6-2 to win the inaugural Citi Open in College Park, Md, on Sunday.
Petrova, ranked No. 32, outclassed her 24-year-old opponent. She hit seven aces, had a first-serve percentage of 64 percent, and she won 64 percent of her service points and more than half of her receiving points.
By winning today, Petrova earned her 10th singles title of her career and her first of 2011. The Russian, who finished last season ranked No. 15, has had a tough year, as she has made only one quarterfinal.
Meanwhile, although Peer didn’t win the title she will probably be satisfied with her performance this week. The Israeli lost in the first round of the French Open and Wimbledon, and hadn’t won a WTA Tour match since May.
Neither player will play in next week’s Mercury Insurance Open in Carlsbad, California.