NEW YORK: Australia's Daria Gavrilova claimed her first WTA title on Saturday, rallying for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Dominika Cibulkova in the final at New Haven.
The 23-year-old, who ousted top seed and defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska in the semi-finals, followed up with a hard-fought triumph over second-seeded Cibulkova that saw them duel for two hours and 45 minutes on the hard courts of Connecticut.
For Gavrilova, ranked 26th in the world, it was a perfect curtain-raiser to the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the year that starts on Monday in Flushing Meadows.
She denied Slovakia's Cibulkova, ranked 11th in the world, a ninth career WTA title.
When she drilled a forehand winner to seal the victory, Gavrilova leapt into the air and tossed her racquet in celebration.
She had turned the tide in the second set with a break for 3-2, winning a marathon game that included five deuces and one rally of 30 shots.
Gavrilova will have a couple of days to savor the triumph before launching her US Open campaign against US qualifier Allie Kiick.
Gavrilova could face fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina in the third round.