Poland’s Magda Linette (PTI Photo)
CHENNAI: Rain and poor air quality caused by Diwali fireworks pushed the WTA 250 Chennai Open final — originally scheduled for Sunday night — to Monday morning. And when the ball finally rolled, third seed Magda Linette drew on her experience to recover from a set down to beat defending champion Janice Tjen 5-7, 6-1, 6-4, turning her 2022 runner-up finish into a title-winning campaign. The 34-year-old grew in confidence, showcasing it with a stunning return winner off Tjen’s 184 kmph first serve.
For Polish girl Linette, the victory meant more than a title. Linette dedicated a moment after the match to express her solidarity, saying, “My thoughts are with the victims and those who are hurt. In tough moments like these, we should try to appreciate and help one another. The match, too, was a topsy-turvy affair with top seed Tjen and third seed Linette holding serve until the 10th game of the first set. Linette was frustrated after losing the opening set and received a code violation for hitting a ball outside the centre court. However, after a break, she composed herself and went about her business. The Pole took advantage of Tjen’s poor second serves. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.
The city of Krakow had been hit by a mass shooting incident on Saturday, with six people dying.