Slovenia’s Polona Hercog won her first career WTA title after beating home favorite Johanna Larsson to win the Collector Swedish Open 2011 title.
The eighth-seeded player was almost knocked out of the tournament in the second round but saved a match point against France’s Aravane Rezai to prevail in three tight sets. She also survived a marathon semifinal match against Czech Republic’s Barbora Zahlavova Strycova to book her place in the final.
“Johanna was amazing. She was fighting until the last point. It was tough with the crowd supporting her so much, but it’s normal. I was ready for it. I had a feeling in myself I could win the tournament. I never spoke about it, but through all my matches this week I thought I was really getting there,” Hercog said.
This was Hercog’s second WTA final. Her first was at a claycourt event in Acapulco last year where she lost to Venus Williams.
