Tsurenko overcomes Mladenovic to win Acapulco title
Kristina Mladenovic was unable to overcome a slow start as she lost to Lesia Tsurenko in the Abierto Mexicano Telcel final.
Lesia Tsurenko claimed her third WTA Tour title with a surprise win over Kristina Mladenovic in the Abierto Mexicano Telcel final.
The Ukrainian seventh seed was too good for Frenchwoman Mladenovic in a 6-1 7-5 victory in Acapulco on Saturday.
Tsurenko has now won a title in each of the last three years, with her latest success improving her record in WTA finals to 3-0, and made it four victories in five meetings with Mladenovic.
She broke the Mladenovic serve seven times throughout the 80-minute contest, although there were only three holds in the second set.
Tsurenko made a dream start by winning the opening five games, before a rollercoaster second set was secured with a break in the 11th game followed by a rare hold.
Mladenovic, the second seed at the WTA International event, was aiming to add to her St Petersburg title from February, but instead saw her record slip to 1-4 in finals.