Alexandrova wins Linz at last after thriller against Yastremska

The third time proved the charm for Ekaterina Alexandrova on Sunday at the Upper Austria Ladies Linz.

After two runner-up finishes at the tournament in the previous six years, the No. 4 seed finally was crowned winner after battling to a 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 win over No. 5 seed Dayana Yastremska in a final that lasted 2 hours and 11 minutes. 

Alexandrova's victory was never assured, despite the higher seed having built a 6-2, 3-0 lead in the first hour-plus. She lost nine straight games from that point on, as the Ukrainian not only won the second set, but built a 3-0 lead in the decider. But a thrilling final finish was on the cards, and Alexandrova's resilience eventually pushed her to a comeback of her own to capture her first WTA 500 title.

Three straight games for Alexandrova leveled the final set, and she later broke Yastresmska's serve from 40-0 at 5-5 before, at long last, taking the winner's trophy in a titanic final service game on her fifth match point.