Auckland glory for Zheng

China's Zheng Jie secured her fourth WTA title at the ASB Classic final in Auckland.

Pennetta retires with back injury in deciding set

China's Zheng Jie secured the fourth WTA title of her career after Italian Flavia Pennetta retired hurt in the third set of the ASB Classic final in Auckland. Fourt seed Pennetta started strongly, clinching the first set, but Zheng battled back to level and was a break up in the decider - leading 2-6 6-3 2-0 - when the Italian called it a day due to a lower back injury. The triumph was Zheng's first tour victory since she won in Stockholm in 2006. The match was played indoors as the rain which washed out Saturday's outdoor action continued to fall. Zheng felt sad for Pennetta, who frequently received treatment on her injury after first feeling discomfort at 4-2 in the opening set. "I want to say sorry for Flavia and the problems with her back," the new champion said of Pennetta, who will undergo an MRI scan on Monday. "I hope she is better for next week [the Australian Open]." On her triumph, Zheng added on the tournament's official website: "I am so excited and so happy to win this title because this is the first time I've won my first tournament of the year."