TOKYO, Oct 20, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands won her 
first WTA Tour title when she beat Australia's Kimberly Birrell 6-0, 6-4 in 
the Japan Open final on Sunday.

In China, meanwhile, world number 11 Daria Kasatkina withstood a fightback 
from 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva to win the Ningbo Open 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 after an 
all-Russian final.

World number 125 Lamens made a terrific start in Osaka when she took the 
first set in just 21 minutes.

The second was a tougher battle but the 25-year-old sealed the contest when 
Birrell hit a return wide on match point.

"It couldn't have been better for me and I love to play here," Lamens said.

Both semi-finals in Japan took place on Sunday morning after rain washed out 
Saturday.

At Ningbo, Kasatkina reeled off the first seven games in a row before her 
19th-ranked opponent got on the scoreboard.

Andreeva levelled the match by breaking the 27-year-old Kasatkina at 5-4 in 
the second.

The teenager then stretched out to a 3-0 lead in the final set.

As both players tired, Kasatkina battled back in a match of momentum shifts 
before falling to the floor in a mixture of elation and exhaustion as she 
clinched the title after 1hr 54min.

Andreeva burst into tears at the prize presentation ceremony and was consoled 
by her good friend and countrywomen Kasatkina.

"I saw you crying a lot, it's okay, you're gonna have a lot more finals," 
Kasatkina told Andreeva.

"I hope we can share some of them."

It was an eighth career WTA Tour title for Kasatkina, who will move into the 
top 10 when the new world rankings are published on Monday.