Russia’s Elena Vesnina emerged victorious and won her most prestigious title to date at the Premier-level Aegon International in Eastbourne on Saturday. Vesnina defeated Jamie Hampton of the United States 6-2, 6-1 under windy conditions at the court.
Both players had to beat top ten players on their way to the final. Vesnina outlasted China’s Li Na while Hampton upset Agnieszka Radwanska and Caroline Wozniacki.
“It was really difficult to play today, honestly,” Vesnina said. “At the beginning I was like, ‘Oh my God, I just need to stay in the match, just try to play every single point. Don’t think about wind and just fight.’ It was not about the serve, it was not about good forehands or good backhands – it was about fighting spirit. If you’re able to handle this, if you’re able to play under the pressure with this wind, you’ll do well.
“You always want to show the best tennis in the final, but it doesn’t matter, a win is a win,” she added.
Hampton only had good things to say to the titlist.
“She played the conditions much better than I did,” Hampton said.
“Honestly, I was surprised how she was even hitting the ball in the court, and on top of that she was playing some very good tennis. She was very deserving of the title today,” she added.
Vesnina has now won her second career WTA title out of eight final appearances. She won her first title earlier this season at an International-level tournament in Hobart.
“Maybe my time has come,” Vesnina said. “Maybe I’ve changed a little bit as a player, as a person. I grew up. I started to be more mature. Maybe I know what to do in finals now, because before, even when I was losing those finals, I was playing against really good players, Top 10 players most of them.
“But I kept believing in myself. I knew I would win this title. I knew it was going to happen. It’s not self-confidence – I knew if I kept working hard and believing in myself, it would come. And it did,” she added.
The win will elevate Vesnina’s ranking from number 36 to number 22, matching her career high which she first set in 2009. Hampton will rise to another career high of number 25 by Monday.
