HUNGARIAN Anna Bondar and American Madison Brengle have stood tall on the WTA Tour this week, claiming 125K titles in a quiet week for the Tour. With no WTA 250 events or higher to allow for the Billie Jean King Cup and ahead of the WTA Finals, the Dow Tennis Classic and Argentina Open were the two events on show. Both players were ranked in the top three seeds at their respective events, with Brengle the top seed at home in Midland, United States, and Bondar the third seed in Argentina.

Bondar took out the Argentina Open in straight sets over seventh seed Diane Parry, 6-3 6-3. The Hungarian world number 135th moved beyond her career-high 131st from last month with the win and took her year-to-date win-loss record to 57-26. Starting off with a double donuts win in the Round of 32, Bondar defeated the likes of 16-year-old young gun Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva and tournament top seed Mayar Sherif. The three-set come-from-behind win over Sherif, 4-6 6-3 6-3 was the sole set dropped in Bondar’s tournament.

In the final, the 24-year-old Hungarian needed an hour and 19 minutes to collect the win, saving all four break points, whilst breaking her opponent three times from five chances. Bondar won 81.3 per cent of her first serve points and 65 per cent of her second serve points. She was far stronger on serve than her opponent (75 to 54.5 per cent success) and able to counter more on return (45.5 to 25 per cent success) for a commanding overall win.

ARGENTINA OPEN RESULT:

[3] Anna Bondar (HUN) defeated [7] Diane Parry (FRA) 6-3 6-3

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Meanwhile in Midland, United States, Brengle had a similar victory over lower ranked compatriot Robin Anderson, 6-2 6-4 in an hour and 36 minutes. Brengle almost exclusively played Americans throughout the tournament, excluding a stunning 6-0 6-0 dominant win over Australian Lizette Cabrera in the quarter finals. She proved too strong for the rest of the field for the most part, because after dropping the first set against Asia Muhammad 6-4 in the Round of 32, Brengle won the next six, only dropping five of a possible 35 games.

Anderson reached the final after an upset win over fifth seed Catherine McNally in the semi-finals, 5-7 6-3 6-4. But in the final, the 31-year-old world number 71 was too good against the world number 198. Brengle is a former world number 35, but has struggled for consistency of late, but finished off nicely in the final. She won a superior 68.4 per cent off 74.5 per cent first serve efficiency. She also broke five times to two to grab the win.

DOW TENNIS CLASSIC FINAL RESULT:

[1] Madison Brengle (USA) defeated Robin Anderson (USA) 6-2 6-4

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Picture credit: WTA Tour

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