Cagla Buyukakcay made history at the Istanbul Cup on Sunday as she became the first Turkish player to win a WTA Tour title.

The 26-year-old had not dropped a set heading into the final, but she did things the hard way by coming from behind to defeat Danka Kovinic 3-6 6-2 6-3. 

Kovinic had threatened to spoil the party with her impressive start, the Montenegrin taking advantage of Buyukakcay's nerves to break twice in quick succession.

She converted the third of her set points to move ahead, but home favourite Buyukakcay settled into the match and mounted a brilliant comeback.

Spurred on by a partisan crowd, Buyukakcay dominated the second set and she maintained that form into the decider - crucially breaking the fifth seed's serve in game four.

Kovinic still threatened to ruin Buyukakcay's day with late pressure, but the world number 118 clung on to claim the first title of her career in front of a delighted home crowd.