Birnerova wins ITF women's title

Braving rain, strong wind and chilly weather, Eva Birnerova of the Czech Republic defeated Shuai Peng of China in straight sets to win the $25,000 ITF women's tournament in Delhi on Saturday.

Birnerova played near perfect tennis in the rain-hit final to win 6-4, 7-5 and cut short the 16-year old Chinese's dream run in the competition.

Rain held up the match for about 15 minutes soon after the start, when Peng was serving in the first game.

When play resumed, Birnerova forced Peng on to the backcourt by breaking her service in the very first game.The Czech then held her serve to take a 2-0 lead. Though the Chinese struggled in the third game, she managed to win it.

Both the players held serve easily thereafter and the score in the first set reached 5-4. In the 10th game, Peng tried hard to break the service of the Czech, but a dodged Birnerova foiled her efforts with a powerful shot from the baseline to take the game and set 6-4.

Peng, who had won all her matches prior to the final without dropping a set, was not at her usual self during the first set. However, she bounced back well and fought agressively before going down 7-5 in the second.

She broke Birnerova once before being broken twice by the Czech as she lost the match.

Earlier reports:
Peng, Birnerova in final
Indian challenge ends
Chakravarthi lone Indian survivor
Second seed Eun-ha Kim bites the dust
Rushmi Chakravarti justifies wild card