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By Chris Oddo                                             Photo Credit: Mohd Rasfan/AFP
 

(March 4, 2012) A crazy and chaotic week came to a close in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday with one first-time finalist celebrating and another one nearly passing out due to exhaustion. 
 

In the end, it was clear: this was Hsieh Su-Wei’s week, and nobody else’s. 
 

Hsieh became the first Taiwanese WTA titlist since 1996, and only the second in history, when she defeated Croatian Petra Martic 2-6, 7-5, 4-1 on Sunday. 
 

Good fortune seemed to follow Hsieh around all week in the Malaysian capital. First, she passed through to the semis when Agnieszka Radwanska withdrew due to an elbow injury, then she benefited in the semifinals when she faced an opponent who was playing her second match of the day thanks to one of many rain-related suspensions encountered throughout the week. 
 

In the final it was more of the same, as Hsieh’s opponent Petra Martic had to outlast Jelena Jankovic in a semifinal that took over three hours earlier in the day. 
 

The 6-7(5), 7-5, 7-6(5) battle with Jankovic left Martic’s tank close to empty. 
 

Hsieh was more than happy to siphon the last drop from her tank. 
 

“In a way I was lucky but I will remember this for as long as I can remember,” said Hsieh. “It has been a good week for Chinese Taipei here.” 
 

Hsieh rallied from a 4-2 deficit in a second set that saw Martic seek medical attention before the 12th game. Finally, an exhausted Martic had to retire after falling behind 4-1 in the decider. 
 

WTA tour supervisor Pam Whytcross said Martic had to pull out as she was suffering from heat exhaustion. 

"She is not injured and just needs a bit of rest. She had a big day today, playing nearly five hours of tennis and is completely exhausted," she said. 
 
 

Hsieh is the second player to come from qualifying to win a WTA title this season.

A Taiwanese team took the doubles title as well, when Kai-Chen Chang and Chia-Jung Chuang defeated Hao-Ching Chan and Rika Fujiwara 7-5, 6-4.

 

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