Boulter beats Raducanu and Pliskova to keep Nottingham title

Katie Boulter retained nan Nottingham Open title aft coming from a group down to hit Karolina Pliskova - conscionable hours aft doing nan aforesaid to topple chap Briton Emma Raducanu.

Home favourite Boulter overcame 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Pliskova to prevail 4-6 6-3 6-2 successful nan final.

"This is simply a small spot of deja vu," Boulter said.

"I'm not judge if I'm dreaming aliases this conscionable happened. This spot has a typical spot successful my bosom and it has been an unthinkable week for me.

"Congratulations to your full entire squad because you [Pliskova] played a awesome tourney and you're truthful reliable to beat, but coming was my day."

The trophy assistance rounded disconnected a testing mates of days for Boulter astatine a weather-hit event.

Saturday's semi-final against Raducanu was suspended overnight and restarted connected Sunday.

Boulter, 27, had mislaid nan first-set tie-break connected Saturday evening but fought backmost good erstwhile they returned, and that acquisition paid dividends arsenic she repeated nan feat against 32-year-old Pliskova.

The British number 1 laid down an early marker, breaking Pliskova's service successful nan opening game, but nan first group turned erstwhile Boulter led 4-3.

Pliskova went connected to break doubly during a four-game winning streak arsenic she took nan set.

With nan Nottingham crowd backing her, Boulter fought backmost spiritedly successful nan 2nd group arsenic she recovered different early break successful crippled 3 earlier picking isolated nan Pliskova service again to unit a decider.

Seeking a 3rd WTA Tour title, having besides won successful San Diego successful March, Boulter exuded assurance passim nan 3rd group arsenic Pliskova started to wilt.

After breaking service doubly to move into a 5-1 lead and pinch nan finishing statement successful sight, Boulter slipped up and dropped her serve.

It was a specified blip successful an assertive last group for nan Briton, though, pinch Boulter hitting backmost successful nan adjacent crippled to decorativeness nan job.

The Birmingham Classic is adjacent up for Boulter arsenic she looks to proceed building momentum for Wimbledon, which originates connected 1 July.

Like Boulter, Pliskova's tally successful Nottingham, particularly successful nan second stages, was affected by nan unpredictable British weather.

The Czech, who lifted nan Nottingham Open title successful 2016, was first retired connected Centre Court connected Sunday greeting to look France's Diane Parry, scoring a 6-7 (9-11) 6-1 6-4 victory.

The erstwhile world number 1 would person been pleased to get a longer spell disconnected tribunal arsenic Boulter and Raducanu completed their lucifer but, ultimately, it did not matter.

"I would person liked nan triumph but Katie was very bully today," Pliskova said.

"It was a reliable week, a agelong week pinch immoderate difficult matches, and I had to play 2 high-quality matches successful 1 day.

"It's a awesome commencement for my grass-court play and hopefully we tin some do well. Good luck Katie."

There was besides British occurrence successful nan men's doubles astatine nan Nottingham Open pinch Marcus Willis teaming up pinch Australian John Peers.

The brace recorded a 6-1 6-7 (1-7) 10-7 triumph against Frenchman Harold Mayot and Australia's Luke Saville.

Willis burst connected to nan segment successful singles astatine Wimbledon successful 2016, coming done six rounds of qualifying to gain a spot successful nan main tie wherever he mislaid to Roger Federer successful nan 2nd round.

Injuries person been an rumor passim his profession but he is enjoying a affirmative tally successful men's doubles, pinch Sunday's title taking his tally to 7 trophies this year, albeit beneath ATP main circuit level.