Ashleigh Makes History With Double Title At ALYA WTA Malaysian Open

KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 (Bernama) -- Australian Ashleigh Barty created history as the first ever player to win both the singles and doubles crown at the ALYA WTA Malaysian Open, in the tournament's eight year history. The 20-year-old right handed first defeated her former junior doubles partner Nao Hibino of Japan 6-3, 6-2 at the TPC Kuala Lumpur here, Sunday for her maiden WTA tour singles title. The world number 158 is projected to make her debut into the world's top 100 after winning the singles title. The former cricketer, later paired up with compatriot Casey Dellacqua to oust Nicole Melichar of United States and Japan's Makoto Ninomiya 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 for the doubles title. "It is truly amazing to win two titles here and I feel awesome as I played my best tennis throughout the week. Nao was my doubles partner in my junior days and I am happy that both of us are playing senior tennis now. "This is probably my best week in my career...I hope this win will inspire me for better days ahead in my goal to achieve top 100 by the end of the season," she said after the match. Earlier in the singles match, Ashleigh was comfortably leading 4-1 in the first set before the match was suspended for about two hours due to heavy downpour, but she managed to win 6-3 once the match resumed. The second set was more intense as Ashleigh’s powerful service game, precision and power was too much for the world number 106 Nao, as the champion broke in the third and seventh game to seal the title. She is only the second player to claim the singles title coming all the way from qualifying round at Kuala Lumpur, after Taiwan’s Hsieh Su Wei in 2012. Ashleigh earned US$43,000 (about RM191,543) and 280 ranking points for the success while Nao received US$21,440 (RM95,504) and 180 ranking points. The Australian cruised into the finals after upsetting China's Han Xinyun 6-3, 7-5 in the semifinals yesterday, while Nao edged Poland's Magda Linette 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. The trophy for the winners were presented by the Prime Minister's wife Rosmah Mansor. Later in the doubles match, the Australian duo had a close battle in the first set before coming back from 1-5 in the tiebreaker to win 7-6 (7-5), but managed to finish the second set 6-3 to close the match in one hour and 15 minutes. (photoBERNAMA) -- BERNAMA