Former world number one Pliskova holds off American Vandeweghe to win at Stuttgart Open

WASHINGTON, April 29 (Xinhua) -- The No.5 seed Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic claimed her first title of the year in the Stuttgart Open as she registered a straight sets victory over American CoCo Vandeweghe 7-6 (2), 6-4 in the final on Sunday.

"You have to really be there mentally to try to get every point even though you are down in the game," Pliskova said after the match. "I'm happy that I made it and didn't have to go through a third set because it's always about a few points."

The victory not only marks Pliskova's 10th title of her career, but is her fourth consecutive final won after losing the 2016 US Open final to Angelique Kerber of Germany.

"I think it's huge for me because I did some work, but not always after you do some good work, you get rewarded immediately with a title," she said. "I didn't think it's going to be that easy or that quick that I'm going to do a title. I'm happy with the work I did before the tournaments."

Vandeweghe posted three Top 10 win this week en route to the close final and she also had her chances in the final. "It was a very tight match. It's just inches that definitely decided the match, especially the first set," Vandeweghe said of the defeat.

"I was climbing my way back in the second set, but she hit an ace on her second serve. That's too good. Sometimes, your opponent plays too good.

"The only thing I know is I gave everything I had out there today and I tried to change the situation. I'm very proud of my performance." Enditem