TALENTED American Alycia Parks came from behind to defeat Aussie Maya Joint and deny the fifth seed a chance at a maiden WTA 125 title. No longer considered a Challenger event level but a step below official WTA Tour level, the former Top 40 player won the Polish Open final 4-6 6-3 6-3 in two hours and nine minutes.

Played in Warsaw, Poland, Parks somehow won despite serving 20 double faults and registering a first serve percentage of just 41.6. In fact half of her double faults came in the deciding third set, but she just found a way to win.

Parks is an incredibly gifted, but inconsistent player who can smack some amazing winners, and also hit some forgettable shots. Her first serve winning percentage of 83.3 per cent was testament to that fact, winning 35 of 42 points, far higher than Joint’s 63 per cent (29/46).

It would have been incredibly frustrating for the Aussie teenager who generated double the break point opportunities, but could only capitalise four times from 16 chances, while Parks broke six from eight. Joint’s serve potency still needs work, as does her consistency at converting points on serve.

Parks is no different, but far more experienced, and her seven aces to nil, along with her belief to get the job done saw her claim her second WTA 125 title of the year after Gaiba, and her fourth overall after trophies in Angers and Andorra back in 2022. They go with her sole WTA Tour title in Lyon last year.

The Atlanta born 23-year-old reached 40th in the world last August after her Lyon title, but has won just 12 of 39 matches this year and tumbled back to 124th in the world. She is technically ranked higher than Joint despite the 18-year-old being seeded, though now the Australian is up to 140th, rising 19 spots with her finals appearance. Parks’ win meant the American rose a further 22 spots and now sits just two places outside the Top 100.

Parks was made to work her way through the draw unseeded having been entered prior to a rich vein of form which saw the American win 11 of the past 12 matches coming into the tournament – only losing to former world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the first round of Wimbledon – and then made it 15 out of 16 with the hardcourt title in Poland.