Hercog defends Bastad crown

Polona Hercog rallied from a disastrous opening set to defeat Mathilde Johansson and successfully defend her Swedish Open title.

Sweden-born Johansson falls short after dream start

Slovenia's Polona Hercog rallied from a disastrous opening set to defeat Mathilde Johansson and successfully defend her Swedish Open title. Sweden-born Johansson had been hoping to lift her first title in the country of her birth, but despite a bright start, she fell 0-6 6-4 7-5 to 21-year-old Hercog, ranked three places below her at world number 86. Hercog overcame early nerves to win the first four games of the second set and held on for a second career title after winning on her debut here last year. Johansson lacked consistency, twice losing games where she lead 0-40 in the second and third sets, and gifted Hercog a 4-1 lead in the final set by double-faulting. The French player fought back to make it 5-5 but then immediately dropped her serve, and the accumulation of unforced errors was ultimately to cost her a maiden title.