Suzan Lamens crowned her debut at the WTA 1000 tournament in Montreal on Sunday with a victory. The Dutch number one was too strong for the Russian Polina Kudermetova in the first round in three sets: 6-3, 4-6 and 6-2.
The 26-year-old Lamens struck after 2 hours and 3 minutes on her first match point. The Berkelse thus took her second victory ever at a WTA 1000 tournament, which are the most important tournaments of the year after the four Grand Slams.
In the first set, Lamens quickly faced a deficit. Kudermetova broke Lamens in her opening game, but relinquished that lead again at a 2-1 game score. Lamens fought back into the match with two breaks in a row and dragged the opening set in on her own service.
The second set also rained breaks. This time it was Lamens with the early break, but the world number 68 could not hold on to that lead. With a utilized break, Kudermetova (WTA-60) tied the score in sets.
In the third and decisive set, Lamens recovered. Within 11 minutes she was 3-0 ahead. Kudermetova did not recover from that blow. Lamens cashed in her match point on her own service.
In the second round, Lamens will face the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, number 21 in the world. Lamens is the only Dutch tennis player to compete in Montreal.