It was unsure she would even play the 2010 season, but in its very first week she proved why that would have been a catastrophe. Yanina Wickmayer's year got off to a winning start, as she won the third Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title of her career at the ASB Classic.In the last week of the 2009 season Wickmayer was dealt a one year ban from the Flemish Anti-Doping Tribunal due to the Whereabouts Rule, where she failed to report her whereabouts for drug testing three times; she appealed and just a few weeks later the ban was overturned due to insufficient justification.
One of the game's brightest rising stars was reinstated into the mix and already the winner's circle, as a No.3-seeded Wickmayer plowed through the draw without the loss of a set, beating No.1 seed Flavia Pennetta in the final, 63 62.
"Flavia made me play my best tennis," Wickmayer said. "I knew the ball would just keep coming back, so I was really aggressive. I knew I would either play amazing or make a lot of mistakes, but I felt really good and even when I made mistakes, I knew as the match went further I wouldn't make them anymore.
"I'm happy the way everything turned out. This week will stay in my heart and soul for the rest of my life."
With Kim Clijsters winning Brisbane, Belgium has both of this week's Tour trophies.
"I guess it has been Belgium's week," Wickmayer added. "It's nice to have a good week for us in the first week of the year. Let's hope we can continue."
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Singles - Final
(WC) Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) d. (1) Flavia Pennetta (ITA) 63 62
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