Citi Open Finalist Yanina Wickmayer Looks For Title Number Five
Steve Fogleman, Tennis Atlantic
WASHINGTON (July 23)—Yanina Wickmayer broke early in the first and second set before a small crowd in brutal heat at Citi Open in Washington today to advance to tomorrow’s WTA final, 6-4, 6-2 over Yulia Putintseva.
Putintseva had three double faults and no aces and found herself down 5-1 to Wickmayer in the first before breaking back and hitting 4 aces in the final four games. Wickmayer held on to hold serve when it mattered most, at 5-4.
Though clearly in an early match haze, Putintseva seemed composed by the end of the first, and there were expectations that the match would tighten up. After a long first service game by Putintseva to begin the second set, Wickmayer came up with the break and was not letting Putintseva back in this one. Putintseva only managed to win about 20% of her return points. That’s not good enough to advance to a final.
Wickmayer will face either American Jesse Pegula or American Lauren Davis in tomorrow’s final, so she won’t be a crowd favorite. Her title match experience and four titles will make her a prohibitive favorite to become the 2016 Citi Open Women’s Champion.
Tennis Atlantic 