By Tennis Now | Sunday, August 7, 2022
Daria Kasatkina rallied past Shelby Rogers 6-7(2), 6-1, 6-2 to collect her fifth career title in San Jose and rise to a career-high rank of No. 9.
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Hard-court season is Daria Kasatkina's time to shine—and opponents are feeling the burn.
The seventh-seeded Kasatkina rallied past American Shelby Rogers 6-7(2), 6-1, 6-2 to collect her fifth career title in San Jose.
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A year after Kasatkina fell to Danielle Collins in a three-set San Jose final, she returned resurgent.
The victory vaults world No. 12 Kasatkina to a career-high rank of No. 9 in the live rankings.
It is Kasatkina's 200th career WTA main-draw victory and comes on hard courts where she's done major damage. Eight of the former Indian Wells' finalist's 10 finals have come on hard courts.
Contesting her third career final, Rogers was bidding for her first WTA title.
The 45th-ranked American saved a set point when Kasatkina served for the opener at 5-4.
In the first set tiebreaker, Rogers rapped a diagonal forehand winner for 4-1. Kasatkina clanked a double fault to face five set points.
On her second set point, Roger whipped a forehand winner down the line to close the 79-minute opener. Rogers hit 15 winners, 7 more than Kasatkina in the set. Kasatkina smacked hersef in the face as if admonishing herself for letting set point slip.
Rogers left the court after the opening set.
Kasatkina reset then roared through seven straight games to take charge against a reeling Rogers.
Two hours into the match, Kasatkina was still bouncing on her toes. Kasatkina slid a slice backhand down the line drawing a running forehand error to break in the opening game of the final set. Kasatkina captured her fifth career title and first since the 2021 St. Petersburg.