Tashkent - Dutch teenager Michaella Krajicek battled to her first WTA title on Sunday, beating Uzbekistan's Akgul Amanmuradova on her home turf 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 to win the Tashkent Open.
"The final was hard psychologically because I had to play against the hostess, with the crowd supporting her," a thrilled Krajicek said after the match.
Krajicek, who has been plagued by injury, also gave special thanks to brother Richard, a former Wimbledon champion.
Amanmuradova, 21, said she would have preferred to lose earlier in the tournament rather than get so close and lose in the final.
"In the first set I couldn't cope with my nervousness and lost quickly... In the second I managed to get hold of my game, but in the third I didn't have enough strength," she said.