Melbourne - Saba:
American player McCartney Kessler was crowned champion of Hobart International Tennis Championship after defeating Elise Mertens 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 in the final of the tournament last night.
She achieved 44 successful strikes against Mertens, who was seeking to win her third title in Hobart after winning in 2017 and 2018, in addition to finishing second last year.
Kessler (25 years old), ranked 67th in the world, secured the victory in just over two hours after a decisive set that she dominated, as she sought to improve after her exit from the second round of the Australian Open last year.
Kessler will face Chinese Zhang Shuai in the first round at Melbourne Park, while Mertens, 29, will face Swiss Viktoria Golubic in the first round of the Australian Open.