Dutch qualifier Bertens wins Fes title

Dutch qualifier Kiki Bertens, the world number 149 playing in only her second WTA main draw, beat Spain's Laura Pous-Tio 7-5, 6-0 to win the Fes Grand Prix claycourt title on Saturday. Before this week 21-year-old Bertens had only played one WTA main draw, at her home event in 's-Hertogenbosch last year where she lost in the first round.

“In the beginning I was very nervous and she started well, but after I won the first set all my nerves were gone,” said Bertens. “I love it here. I was here for one week because I played the qualies too, so I'm a little bit tired now, but I'm going to celebrate tonight and then go back home tomorrow.

“I'm excited. I'm going to play more tournaments now and try to win more.” She almost didn't make it into the main draw, surviving some close encounters in her last two qualifiers - she was down 3-1 in the third set to Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino and 4-1 third set to Kristyna Pliskova - but she survived.

FES April 28, 2012