Watson downs Brengle for Hobart title
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Hobart, Australia (SportsNetwork.com) - Brit Heather Watson topped American qualifier Madison Brengle, 6-3, 6-4, in the final of the Hobart International on Saturday.
The Australian Open tuneup provided the 22-year-old Watson her second career championship in as many final appearances. She also captured a title in Osaka in 2012.
"I'm obviously very happy," Watson said. "It was tough conditions again today, very windy. And I knew Madison would be tough -- we know each other very well on and off the court, and we practice a lot in Florida. I knew it would be a tough one today. And it really was my toughest match of the week.
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"I was happy I stayed mentally strong and managed to get ahead and hold my nerve at the end."
The 24-year-old Delaware native Brengle was in her first-ever WTA final.
Watson beat Brengle in their only other previous WTA meeting in Quebec City in 2010.
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Watson will play Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova in the first round of next week's Australian Open, while Brengle goes against Andrea Petkovic.