Steady Lepchenko takes Mercer Tennis Classic

Consistency leads Lepchenko to Mercer Tennis Classic title

          Varvara Lepchenko reached the singles finals of the Mercer Tennis Classic with steady, consistent play, and didn’t lose a set in the process.

          Certainly that would change in the finals.

          It didn’t.

          Lepchenko went through the whole tournament without losing a set and beat Veronica Cepede Royg 6-4-6-4 at the Leroy Peddy Tennis Center on Sunday for her first tournament win of 2018.

          “It was close,” the new champ said after winning on a glorious afternoon. “I hope this is a good way to finish off the year.”

Lepchenko has been ranked in the top 20, and the 32 year old has finished in the top 100 the last seven years.

The native of Uzbekistan became an American citizen nearly seven years ago, and has been on a good run lately with WTA quarterfinal appearances in Quebec City and Chicago.

          A down-the-line backhand worked well for Lepchenko, preventing Cepede Royg from settling down and being more offensive. Lepchenko came up with the clutch points late in the opening set.

          “It was important to close out that first set,” said Lepchenko after her 12th career ITF single title. “I ran into some trouble late in the match, but came through.” 

          Cepede Royg got to the finals by way of wins over seventh-seed Marie Bouzkova and upstart qualifier Hailey Baptiste, all after losing her first set of the tournament.

Americans Caty McNally and Jessica Pegula topped Ingrid Neel and Anna Danilina 6-1, 5-7 (11-9) for the doubles title.

          Two different countries were represented during six-year tournament’s week.