Pune, Nov 21 (IANS) Sixth-seeded and 237th-ranked Rika Fujiwara of Japan defeated 189th-ranked and third-seeded Bojana Jovanovski of Serbia 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 to lift the $50,000 NECC-ITF Women’s tennis trophy here Saturday.
In a well-fought final lasting two hours and 33 minutes, the diminutive 28-year-old Japanese used all her experience to stop the fighting Serbian Fed Cupper Jovanovski and win the top prize of $7,315 and 70 WTA points.

“I’m thrilled to win my first event of the year,” said the World No. 13 doubles player Fujiwara. “This was the first time in the tournament I was under pressure. I lost the first set but I am happy to have come out of problems and win the title which is special for me.”

The Japanese, who used to be a top-100 player, was out of the tour for nearly four years due to a troublesome wrist that was finally operated upon in 2006. “I have had problems and my rankings slipped, but my aim is to be in the Grand Slam and score some victories over good players,” Fujiwara said.

Bojana, who received $3,990 and 50 WTA points, said: “I played well, but my opponent was fitter than me. I will have to work on my fitness for sure. I had my chances in the second set, but she was moving all around the court and forced me to make mistakes. But I’m only 17 and have learnt a lot today.”

Former Indian Davis Cupper Jaideep Mukherjee gave away the prizes.