Pavlyuchenkova wins 10th title in Morocco

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has picked up her 10th WTA title after beating Francesca Schiavone to win the Morocco Open.

It was the Russian’s second title in as many months after winning on the hard surface of Monterrey in April and, after reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, she will be fancying a tilt at the French Open now.

“We’ve had tough matches on clay before so I knew it was going to be tough,” Pavlyuchenkova said after the 7-5 7-5 victory.

“I’m so happy and relieved I won. A win is a win and I love to win.”

Also lifting silverware on Saturday was German qualifier Mona Barthel who won a first Tour title since 2014 as she recovered from a set down to beat Kristyna Pliskova in the Prague Open.

The Czech took the first set 6-2 but Barthel hit back to win the next two 7-5 6-2.

It was her fourth title on the WTA Tour, having previously won in Hobart, Paris and Bastad.

“I still can’t believe it,” she said. “It was a long and tough week. I am completely exhausted. Today I woke up and was feeling so bad. I was like ‘come on, one more day’.”

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