WTA Chennai Open: Linette comes from behind, bags fourth Tour-level title

CHENNAI Magda Linette wasn’t too keen on playing the WTA 250 Chennai Open after a round-of-16 loss in Guangzhou. But the decision had already been made by her team. Linette, the third-seeded Pole, didn’t have much to complain about in the end as she beat reigning champion Janice Tjen 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 in a thrilling final on Monday to claim her fourth Tour-level title.

The summit clash was originally scheduled for Sunday before being shifted to the reserve day due to rain and Deepavali fireworks-induced smog. Amidst the cacophony of firecrackers bursting sporadically in the distance, the contest began at 11 a.m. with 600-odd spectators on the centre court at the SDAT Stadium and under a clear sky.

The first set had been on a knife edge till World No. 68 Linette misjudged a loopy forehand from the top-seeded Indonesian. Tjen, after wasting five, finally converted a break point with a forehand down the line to take a 6-5 lead before serving the 64-minute opener out.