Monterrey, Mexico – Russian tennis ace Diana Shnaider secured her fifth consecutive WTA final victory on Saturday, prevailing over second-seeded compatriot Ekaterina Alexandrova in a hard-fought three-set battle, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, to claim the Monterrey title.
Five Finals, Five Triumphs
The third-seeded Shnaider continued her perfect streak in WTA Tour finals, adding the Monterrey crown to her previous triumphs in Hong Kong, Budapest, Bad Homburg, and Hua Hin last year.
She looked well on her way after comfortably taking the first set and breaking Alexandrova in the opening game of the second. However, Alexandrova, who had a quick turnaround after completing a rain-disrupted semi-final earlier in the day, clawed her way back.
Alexandrova broke Shnaider in her final two service games of the second set to force the decider. In the final set, Shnaider again secured an early break and this time maintained the advantage to seal the victory.
Alexandrova’s Tough Road to the Final
Alexandrova had secured her spot in the championship match when Czech Marie Bouzkova retired from their rain-delayed semifinal after dropping the first set 6-3. Bouzkova sought treatment for an apparent hip or groin injury before opting not to continue.
Quick Turnaround for the US Open
The finalists face a rapid turnaround as they head to New York for the US Open, where singles play commences on Sunday. Shnaider, the 20th seed in the final Grand Slam of the year, will open her campaign against Germany’s Laura Siegemund. Alexandrova, seeded 13th, is set to face Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova, while the injured Bouzkova will hope to be fit for her opener against France’s Elisa Jacquemot.
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