Luksika wins maiden WTA title by rallying past Irina

Mumbai: Fifth-seeded Luksika Kumkhum of Thailand rallied in fine style to fashion a three-set victory over unseeded Russian opponent Irina Khromacheva in the L and T Mumbai Open and clinch her maiden WTA title on Sunday.

Luksika was overwhelmed by the left-handed Irina with her high-ball game in the opening set before recovering to find the means to overcome the Russian, who looked tired in the third set, 1-6 6-2 6-3 in one hour and 47 minutes in the summit clash of the 125K series event at the Cricket Club of Indias courts. The 103rd-ranked received $20,000 for her triumph, besides bagging 160 WTA points, while Irina picked up $11,000 and 95 WTA points.

The doubles crown was won by the third-seeded Russian pair of Natela Dzalamidze and Veronila Kudermetova who defeated Bibiane Schoofs of the Netherlands and Barbora Stefkova of the Czech Republic in three sets in the final.