“Baku Cup 2014” wraps up
By Amina Nazarli
The prestigious event of Baku Cup 2014 came to an end after a week.
It was held from July 20 to July 27. As observers say, the bright moments and exciting rivalries of the tournament would be remembered for years to come.
Thirty two high-ranking tennis players struggled in the main draw. The prize fund of the tournament organized by "WTA Tour" was $250,000 this year.
This grand tournament which has been held since 2011 in Baku brought together stars of world tennis such as Vera Zvonareva, Anastasia Pavluchenkova, Aravan Rezai, Bojana Jovanovski and Elina Svitolina.
The final match, held on July 27 was a very decisive match for the championship. Ukrainian Elena Svitolina successfully defended her title at the Baku Cup, defeating 2012 champion Serbian Bojana Jovanovski in the final.
Thus, the female winner of "Baku Cup 2014" international tournament was Elina Svitolina. The Ukrainian tennis player was awarded with a cup. She also gained 280 rating points and $43 000 as a prize.
The second-seeded Svitolina broke Jovanovski twice to capture
the opening set in 22 minutes. She then saved all three break
points faced in the second set before cruising in the
tiebreaker.
The 19-year-old Svitolina is the first teenager to win multiple WTA
titles since Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova captured three at
Monterrey and Istanbul in 2010 and again at Monterrey in 2011
before turning 20.
The champions also have been identified in doubles in Baku Cup
2014 tennis tournament.
In the final match of the tournament, the duo of Aleksandra Panova
of Russia and Heather Watson of Great Britain faced the team of
Shahar Peer (Israel) and Raluka Olaru (Romamia).
In a tense match Panova and Watson defeated their rivals. Thanks to this victory they gained 280 rating points and $12 300 as a prize. Peer and Olaru who lost the final, received 180 rating points and $6400.
Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport of Azerbaijan Ismail Ismailov noted that traditionally there are great opportunities for developing sport and Olympic movement in Azerbaijan which has ancient and rich sport. He also noted that Azerbaijan hosted 9 international competitions this summer.
Speaking about the organization of the tournament, Director of the tournament and former tennis player, Leila Meskhi said that holding of the tournament by Women's Tennis Association in Baku is the result of successful policies of the Tennis Federation of Azerbaijan.