Vinci ends three-year title drought

MOSCOW: Italy’s Roberta Vinci captured her 10th WTA singles title after she outclassed Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic 6-4 6-3 to win the St Petersburg Ladies Trophy here on Sunday.

The US Open finalist, who had previously announced that she would quit tennis at the end of 2016, showed that she still had the weapons to compete with her younger rivals as the 18-year-old Bencic failed to cope with the second seed’s attacking tactics.

Vinici, who ended Serena Williams’ bid to complete a calendar grand slam in 2015 by beating the American in the US Open semi-finals, broke Bencic three times in the first set and once in the second to win her first title since 2013.

Ending her title drought also raised the possibility that the 32-year-old Vinci may reconsider her decision to retire at the end of the season.

Asked if she now plans to play for a few more years, she said: “Two, three years? No. One more, maybe. Why not?”