THERE was nowhere to hide for first-time WTA Tour finalist Emiliana Arango in the Merida Open decider, as world number 10 Emma Navarro double-bagelled the Colombian qualifier in just 55 minutes on court. Top seeded at the event and clear tournament favourite, Navarro belted her way to the trophy to win what is just her second career title.

The American’s first WTA Tour title came a little over a year ago when she triumphed in Hobart, though Merida is her first WTA500 title. In winning 6-0 6-0, Navarro became just teh fifth player of the 21st century to win a WTA Tour final without dropping a game.

Navarro and Arango are separated by 123 ranking spots and it looked even more on court, as the American – who will rise to eighth from the title – hit 20 winners to six and only made eight unforced errors to 15.

Her serve rating was a remarkable 307 to Arango’s 107, winning all bar 10 points on serve, including 19/25 (76 per cent) off her first serve and 7/11 (64 per cent) off her second serve. She converted her six breaks from just 10 points, and Arango only won 28 per cent of the points in the match (21/74).

It was a humbling experience from the Colombian who should be proud of her performance through the tournament. She will receive a 53-spot rankings boost up to 80th in the world, and will enter the Top 100 for the first time in her career.

Arango was coming off a successful WTA125 win in Cancun, and though the competition there was far weaker, started what was a nine-game main draw winning streak, and that moved up to 11 when accounting for the two successful qualifying matches.

Navarro completely obliterated her opposition throughout the tournament, dropping just 15 games across four matches, and spending no more than an hour and 19 minutes on court for a match. It prepares the American for a return to the desert where she hopes to impress in her home nation when Indian Wells kicks off in a few days time.

Pegula pounces in Texas

IT was a great day to be an American in tennis, with fellow top seed Jessica Pegula taking home the ATX Open WTA250 final in Texas. Pegula was too good for compatriot McCartney Kessler, as the Florida local ended the run of Georgian Kessler 7-5 6-2 in an hour and 24 minutes.

Pegula moved up three spots to ninth in the Live Race Ranking, maintaining her fourth rank overall, while the 25-year-old Kessler entered the Top 50 from her run to the final. The number one seed hit five more winners than her countrywoman (12-7) and five less unforced errors (29-34) throughout the match, converting six break points to three in the process.

As a whole Pegula was a step ahead of the fifth seed, winning a higher percentage of first serve points (64 to 51) and second serve points (48 to 42). Both players will look to make a big impression at the WTA1000 Indian Wells tournament this week.