Kurumi Nara clinches first WTA singles title with victory in Rio

Japan's Kurumi Nara won her first WTA singles title on Sunday by defeating top seed Klara Zakopalova in the final of the Rio Open.

© Getty Images

The Japanese number one, who is generally more at home on hard courts, adapted well to the Brazilian clay to overcome Zakopalova 6-1 4-6 6-1.

Nara's route to the final saw her record straight-sets victories over Hsieh Su-wei, Anna-Lena Friedsam and Lourdes Dominguez Lino, before beating Italy's Nastassja Burnett 6-4 3-6 6-2 in the semis.

Her successful week is likely to see her climb into the top 50 of the WTA rankings.