Elena Baltacha gave herself a timely boost ahead of Wimbledon by winning the final of the AEGON Nottingham Challenge.
British number one wins in Nottingham after rain forces final to be moved indoors
Elena Baltacha gave herself a timely boost ahead of Wimbledon by winning the final of the AEGON Nottingham Challenge on Sunday.
The British number one beat the Czech Republic's Petra Cetkovska 7-5 6-3 in the final of the ITF tournament, the tier below the main WTA Tour.
Heavy rain meant that the match had to be moved from the outside grass surface to an indoor court, but the switch did not trouble world number 74 Baltacha.
The title was her 10th at ITF level but she returns to WTA Tour action next week, competing at the AEGON International in Eastbourne.
Baltacha beat 41st-ranked Lucie Hradecka earlier in the tournament, and pulled clear once she got ahead against world number 92 Cetkovska.
Special
"It's great to win a title this big, especially playing at home," Baltacha said. "It makes it even more special.
"The decision to go indoors was made pretty quickly and, to be honest, I felt like I had a better chance going indoors, so none of that bothered me at all.
"In the first set, I think we both started a little bit hit and miss, probably because we hadn't hit indoors and we needed to get used to it.
"Then by the end of the first set, I felt like I was dominating. It was me getting things going.
"Once I won that set, I think I lifted. I felt very confident to push on and I relaxed and I thought, 'Okay, I can really go for it now'. She started playing better towards the end by then it was too late."
She added: "This is everything I could have hoped for from this week. I have had enough preparation on the grass going into Eastbourne and my form has been solid all week.
"I couldn't ask for more going into Eastbourne and Wimbledon."
