Brengle wins first singles title in 20 months at W80 Macon
Madison Brengle won her first professional singles title in 20 months at the W80 Macon tournament on the ITF World Tennis Tour on Sunday, defeating Kazakh Zarina Diyas for a happy return to the John Drew Smith Tennis Centre.
The 31-year-old American, who had tasted silverware in Macon before with victory alongside Alexa Glatch in the doubles event seven years ago, increased her ITF singles tally to 16 with the triumph.
"I won the doubles here a [few] years ago," said Brengle. "But to win the singles in my sixth year of coming here and at the end of a tough year is an accomplishment."
Brengle, whose last singles title came at WTA $125k level in February 2020, is a former top 40 player, having reached the fourth round at the Australian Open in 2015.
Consistency has been hard to come by for the American in 2021, though she did reach the W100 Charleston final in May, falling to compatriot Claire Liu, and reached the third round at Wimbledon after second round finishes at the Australian Open and Roland Garros.
Also last week, Frenchwoman Chloe Paquet won her third title of the year at W25 Netanya, defeating 17-year-old Brit Matilda Mutavdzic in the final.
Eighteen-year-old Zhuoxuan Bai, of China, followed up on her maiden title at W15 Sharm El Sheikh in mid-October with her second title in as many weeks at the same venue. The former girls’ world No. 9 is making a strong transition to the senior game off the back of a very promising junior career which saw her claim six junior titles and reach the girls’ singles semi-finals at the 2020 Australian Open.
Belarusian Yuliya Hatouka claimed her third title of the year – and 10th on the ITF World Tennis Tour overall - at W25 Karaganda, while there were also W25 tournament wins for Hungarian Panna Udvardy at W25 Rio do Sul, 18-year-old Antonia Ruzic at W25 Hamburg and 19-year-old former junior world No. 1 Diane Parry at W25 Seville.
Parry has now won three ITF singles titles in 2021 and four overall, all of which have come on clay.
It was also a significant week for former world No. 66 Luksika Kumkhum, who ended a seven-match losing streak dating back to May 2019 with the title at W15 Monastir.
The 28-year-old from Thailand has made 12 appearances at the Grand Slams, including a third-round run at the Australian Open in 2018.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old Sonay Kartal of Great Britain has had a fine fortnight in Antalya, winning her first career title at the W15 tournament a week after finishing a runner-up as a qualifier at the same venue.
The women’s action continues on the ITF World Tennis Tour this week with 11 tournaments taking place – including three at W80 level in Spain, USA and France. Follow all the latest scores here.