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Fiona Ferro wins Palermo Ladies in first WTA Tour event in five months

Fiona Ferro of France holds the trophy as she celebrates winning the Ladies' Singles final against Anett Kontaveit of Estonia during the 31st Palermo Ladies Open
Image: Fiona Ferro was victorious in the 31st Palermo Ladies Open

France's Fiona Ferro overpowered Anett Kontaveit 6-2 7-5 to win the Palermo Ladies Open, the first WTA Tour event to be staged since the COVID-19 epidemic shut down the sport.

Ferro went 10 matches unbeaten in regional exhibition events after the Tour was suspended in March, and continued to gather further momentum with five more wins in Palermo this week as major tennis returned in the Sicilian capital.

"I think it was my best match of the week," the 23-year-old Ferro said after landing the second title of her career with a dominant display.

"I was feeling relaxed... I don't know why because it was a final! I wasn't really feeling pressure."

Several exhibition events have taken place globally since the sport was halted in early March due to the pandemic but the women's claycourt tournament in Palermo was the first across both the elite WTA and ATP tours in five months.

There were strict health protocols, including limited number of fans and no handshakes between players after the match.

Fiona Ferro of France returns a shot in the Ladies' Singles final against Anett Kontaveit of Estonia during the 31st Palermo Ladies Open on August 09,
Image: Fiona Ferro will move into the world top 50 after winning in Palermo

Players and officials underwent COVID-19 tests every four days and one player who tested positive pulled out of the tournament last weekend.

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"I had a good intensity throughout the whole match, I didn't miss a lot, made a lot of winners, so I'm really happy to have the trophy with me," said Belgian-born Ferro.

She struck 51 winners and broke Kontaveit's serve five times in a clinical display as she clinched the title on her second match point.

The result ensures Ferro will make her world top-50 debut at number 44 when the latest WTA rankings are released on Monday.

Estonia's Kontaveit, ranked 22nd, has now lost five of the six finals she has contested.

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