Google News JAPAN´S NAO HIBINO WINS USTA STOCKTON CHALLENGER SINGLES TITLE OVER AN-SOPHIE MESTACH OF BELGIUM
by FEDERICO COPPINI
STOCKTON, CALIF. – Eight days of Tennis at the Hal Nelson Tennis Courts came to a conclusion on Sunday as fifth-seeded (173rd ranked) Nao Hibino of Japan took home the singles crown with a 6-1, 7-6(6) victory over the top overall seed and 111th ranked An-Sophie Mestach of Belgium.
Hibino, 20, took home her second $50,000 title as she adds the inaugural Stockton championship to a tournament victory on May 17th at the Kurume Best Amenity Cup on grass courts in Kurume, Japan.
The 7th highest ranked player in Japan, Hibino was taking her first solo voyage to the United States as a tennis professional and fought through what was widely considered an extremely tough draws at the 50k level of the USTA Pro Circuit.
Hibino toppled the overall-No. 1 seed Mestach in the final with a sound defensive strategy and great on-court awareness. Hibino will now start a quest for consecutive event titles at Sacramento’s FSP Gold River Challenger on Tuesday as the main draw begins in Gold River, Calif.
Singles Main Draw – Finals
Nao Hibino (5), Japan def, An-Sophie Mestach, Belgium, 6-1, 7-6(6)