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By Adrianna Outlaw | Sunday, July 19, 2015

 
Johanna Larsson

Swedish No. 1 Johanna Larsson defeated defending champion Mona Barthel, 6-3, 7-6 (2), to claim her first career WTA title in Bastad.

Photo credit: Collector Swedish Open/Fredric Berggren

The third time was the charm for Johanna Larsson.

Contesting her third Bastad final, the Swedish No. 1 captured her first career WTA title with a 6-3, 7-6 (2) triumph over defending champion Mona Barthel in today's final.

Larsson fought off six of nine break points she faced defeating the powerful German for the first time in four career meetings.

Video: Larsson's Bastad Brilliance

Perseverance paid off for the seventh-seeded Swede, who was winless in four career WTA finals.

Larsson lost her first career final to Anna Chakvetadze at Portoroz in 2010. She was the 2011 Bastad runner-up to Polona Hercog and fell to Serena Williams in the 2013 Bastad title match.

The return game was a key component for the world No. 72 today. Larsson won 50 percent of Barthel's first-serve points and converted five of 10 break-point chances.


Larsson will play for her second title of the day as she partners Kiki Bertens in the doubles final against Tatjana Maria and Olga Savchuk later today.

Bertens and Larsson beat Barthel and Laura Siegemund in Saturday's doubles semifinal giving the Swede a good look at Barthel's serve in advance of today's singles final.


 

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