Florianopolis, Brazil (SportsNetwork.com) - Klara Zakopalova was down, but certainly not out in Saturday's final of the Brasil Tennis Cup against Garbine Muguruza and rallied to end a nearly nine-year title drought.
The second-seeded Muguruza was a game away from her second WTA title of the 2014 season. She had beaten Zakopalova in the Hobart final back in January and was in position to repeat the feat Saturday, but the Czech stormed back to win the final 11 games for a stunning 4-6, 7-5, 6-0 triumph.
"After I won the second set I told myself anything could happen," said Zakopalova. "I was losing the whole match, but anything can happen in a final. I think I got a little bit lucky here and there, and I'm very happy I could make it through and win the third set, and win the title."
Zakopalova, seeded third this week, was playing her second straight final. She dropped a three-set decision to Japan's Kurumi Nara last Sunday in Rio de Janeiro.
Saturday's victory gave Zakopalova her third career WTA title, but first since winning twice during the 2005 season. She had lost six straight finals since September 2005 in Portoroz and is now just 3-12 all-time in title matches.
Muguruza was serving for the match at 5-2 in the second set when it all went wrong. The 20-year-old Venezuelan-born Spaniard couldn't win another game.
Zakopalova simply dominated the third set, winning 25 of the 33 points played.
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