Staff Reporter.
Jessica Pegula saved five championship points as she beat Anna Kalinskaya to win the Berlin Open and confirm her status as a Wimbledon title contender.
Pegula missed the European clay-court swing with injury and made her return to playing last week in the Netherlands.
She first completed her rain-delayed semi-final on Sunday against doubles partner and world number two Coco Gauff, quickly wrapping up a 7-5 7-6 (7-2) win.
The world number five then had to find her way back against Russia’s Kalinskaya, overturning a 4-1 third-set deficit to win 6-7 (0-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-3).
It is Pegula’s fifth WTA Tour title and her first on grass.
She reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon last year, losing in three sets to eventual champion Marketa Vondrousova.
Pegula, 30, is scheduled to play at the Eastbourne International before Wimbledon begins on 1 July.