By ,
Published January 13, 2015
Surging Romanian Simona Halep knocked off reigning champion Petra Kvitova in straight sets Saturday to claim the New Haven Open title, a final U.S. Open tune-up.
The 21-year-old Halep needed just over an hour to dispose of the third-seeded Kvitova, earning a 6-2, 6-2 victory on the hardcourts at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale University.
The title was Halep's fourth in her last seven tournaments overall, helping the surging right-hander improve to an impressive 35-14 this year.
The former Wimbledon champion Kvitova, who topped Russian Maria Kirilenko in last year's New Haven finale, was seeking her 11th WTA title and second this season after winning in Dubai back in February.
Halep earned $117,000 for her first-place finish.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/halep-dethrones-kvitova-to-claim-new-haven-crown