Birmingham, England (Sports Network) - American Melanie Oudin claimed her
first WTA title with a straight-set win over Jelena Jankovic of Serbia in
Monday's rain-delayed final at the Aegon Classic.
Rain plagued the Wimbledon tune-up all week and forced a Monday finish, which
went to Oudin in a 6-4, 6-2 decision. It was also her first-ever WTA final.
Oudin, currently ranked 208th, first had to qualify for the main draw and won
six matches to capture the title. She had played only five WTA main-draw
matches all year, winning just one, entering the tournament.
That lone victory came in the first round of the French Open. She was then
beaten by eventual Roland Garros runner-up Sara Errani in the second round.
Oudin, though, has now beaten Jankovic twice in as many meetings. The first
win came in the third round at Wimbledon in 2009. It also served as a coming
out party for the then-17-year-old Oudin, who went on to lose to Agnieszka
Radwanska in the fourth round at the All England Club, but reached the
quarterfinals at the U.S. Open later that summer.
After two unheralded seasons that included one semifinal appearance in 2010
and one quarterfinal result in 2011, Oudin spent most of this year on the ITF
circuit. She did have a pair of first-round losses in WTA events in Memphis
and Charleston, then won an ITF title in Charlottesville.
Jankovic, meanwhile, fell to 12-15 all-time in finals. The former world No. 1
hasn't won a tournament since 2010 at Indian Wells. Her best previous results
this year were a trio of semifinal appearances. She had also lost five of her
previous six matches entering this tournament.
Oudin collected a first prize of $37,000.
The Sports Network