Lauren Davis storms to first title in six years in Hobart

Ohio's Lauren Davis broke a six-year WTA title drought on Saturday at the Hobart International, storming to her second career trophy with a 7-6(0), 6-2 win over Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto. 

The 28-year-old Davis, a former Top 30 player, came to Hobart ranked No. 84 and the No. 11 seed in qualifying. She posted two victories in qualifying before she racked up five wins in the main draw to take the title. That included a Round 1 upset of fellow American and 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens.

Davis is the fourth American, and fourth qualifier, to win the singles title in the history of the tournament, which dates back to 1993. 

“I have a lot of emotions going through my body right now,” Davis said after the match. “I’m just really happy, really excited. I really had to play my best in order to win today."

Davis saved two set points in the first set of her victory over Cocciaretto, the closest she came to losing a set all week. She lost more than three games in just one other set of the 14 she played in all. 

Road to the Championship - Lauren Davis

Q1: def. Kamilla Rakhimova - 6-0, 6-3

Q2: def. Kateryna Baindl (UKR) - 7-5, 6-3

R1: def. (4) Sloane Stephens (USA) - 6-2, 6-2

R2: def. Ysaline Bonaventure (BEL) - 7-6(1), 6-2

QF: def. Wang Xinyu (CHN) - 6-3, 6-2

SF: def. (Q) Anna Blinkova - 6-3, 6-3

F: def. Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA) - 7-6(0), 6-2