OMNISPORT

Anna Karolina Schmiedlova lifted her second WTA career title with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 win over Sara Errani at the Bucharest Open.

It was sweet revenge for the Slovak, who had been beaten by Errani in the final of the Rio Open back in February.

Sunday's showpiece at the WTA International clay-court event was Schmiedlova's third this year, after she broke her Tour duck at the Katowice Open in April.

Top seed Errani, meanwhile, was unable to add to her eight singles titles, as she followed in the footsteps of doubles partner Roberta Vinci.

Errani and Vinci have completed the career Grand Slam as a duo, but the former was unable to go one better than her compatriot here, after Vinci lost the 2014 final to Simona Halep.

Despite being ranked 40 places lower than her top-20 opponent, Schmiedlova settled into the encounter quickly, and raced into a 3-0 lead as a searing double-handed backhand gave her a break in game two.

The pair traded further breaks in games five and six before, when serving for the lead, Schmiedlova wasted a set point and allowed Errani back in.

The Italian's reprieve was brief, however, as in the tie-break Schmiedlova set up another set point with a stunning cross-court backhand and this time she capitalised as Errani could only slice into the net at the end of the next rally.

In the second set, Schmiedlova secured an early break for a 3-1 lead but once again she was pegged back as Errani levelled at 3-3.

Schmiedlova recovered her poise and an important hold for a 5-3 lead saw Errani take her frustration out on her racket, as well as angrily remonstrating with the crowd to be quiet during points.

Potentially distracted, Errani failed to trouble her opponent when serving to stay in the match, as a fearsome Schmiedlova forehand sealed a break to love and the title.