Leanne Baker achieved a rare feat in winning the singles of the ITF Futures in Wellington.
Baker, 24, the seventh seed, won the US$10,000 ($14,000) ASB International by beating fourth seed Mirielle Dittmann of Australia 2-6, 6-1, 6-1.
No New Zealand woman has won a professional singles title at ITFor WTA level for a number of years.
Although she didn't know about the lack of success of locals in their own tournaments until after her win, Baker was delighted to take the title, especially as she regards herself as a doubles specialist. Her doubles ranking is 111 in the world while her singles coming into the tournament was 521.
"It is definitely one of my sweetest victories. I have won a couple of overseas Futures but it's always nice to win at home and considering the history of Kiwis it's great," she said.
Baker started the final nervously, dropping the first set and looking out of sorts as Dittmann hit winners and forced mistakes. However, the second and third sets saw Baker gain confidence and Dittmann lose her rhythm. Baker played part of the match with a cracked racquet which she didn't even notice until late in the match. She continued to use it and appeared to play better with each game.
"I don't think it was as easy as it looked. I had to come up with something special to win the tournament. Mirielle's such a tough fighter ... "
Baker had lost to Dittmann five years ago in a third set tie break in the final of the same event.
Baker will now play the second of the Futures events in Blenheim, starting tomorrow.
New Zealand No 1 Shelley Stephens has withdrawn from Blenheim with injury. The top seed will be Australia's Lauren Breadmore.
Road to title
* Quarter-final: beat T. Eklov (US) 6-1, 6-3
* Semifinal: beat bt Ye-Ra Lee (Korea) 6-2, 6-4
* Final: beat M. Dittmann (Australia) 2-6, 6-1, 6-1
