Camila Giorgi wins Merida Open for first WTA title

Camila Giorgi of Italy capped her run through the Merida Open field by knocking off Rebecca Peterson of Sweden in three sets in Sunday's final in Merida, Mexico.

It was the first WTA singles title of her career.

Giorgi, who is ranked 68th in the world, took down the sixth, second and fourth seeds before defeating the also-unseeded Peterson in winning 7-6 (3), 1-6, 6-2. Giorgi saved 8 of 12 break points, while Peterson won only 4 of 8.

In the first set, Peterson broke Giorgi's serve to take a 4-3 lead and won all four points on her own serve to go up 5-3. But Giorgi held serve and broke back to tie the set at 5-5.

In the tiebreaker, Giorgi won the first three points, including breaking Peterson's serve twice, and broke her serve again for a 5-1 lead. Peterson won the next two points, but Giorgi won on her serve to go up 6-3 and broke Peterson yet again to claim the set.

Peterson won five straight games to clinch the second set, including breaking Giorgi twice, but the third set was only slightly closer than the second. After Peterson won the first two games, Giorgi won six straight to clinch the match.

Peterson's path to the final included victories over the fifth seed and top-seeded Magda Linette.