Kristina Liutova becomes youngest WTA champion since 2019

MEMPHIS (Agencies): Sixteen-year-old Kristina Liutova of Russia claimed a 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Darja Vidmanova of the Czech Republic on Sunday to earn the title at ​the Memphis Classic in her first-ever WTA main-draw event. Liutova, the world’s ‌No. 229-ranked player who had to qualify to get into the main draw, became the first player aged 16-or-younger since Coco Gauff in 2019 to win a WTA event and ​the first player born in the 2010s to win a WTA ​event. She started the tournament by advancing when top-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova of ⁠Russia was forced to retire, then handled sixth-seeded Caty McNally in the ​quarterfinals on the way to the title. Liutova did not register any aces on ​the hard-court surface against Vidmanova, but she converted seven of 10 break-point opportunities. She converted a higher percentage of her second serves into points (12 of 19) than her first serves (27 of ​55).

Mubadala DC Open

The final between top-seeded Jessica Pegula and the Philippines’ Alexandra ​Eala was suspended late Sunday afternoon due to heavy rain and lightning in Washington and will ‌resume ⁠Monday at noon ET. Pegula built a 6-4, 1-2 lead over Eala before play was suspended. Pegula secured two of three break-point chances to take the first set, including one to break a 4-4 deadlock before she served out the ​set. She also ​saved three of ⁠four break-point chances on her serve in the opening set.

National Bank Open

Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rahkimova defeated Venus Williams 6-4, 6-1 to ​highlight first-round action in Toronto. Rahkimova needed 1 hour, 27 minutes ​to secure ⁠the win over Williams, 46, who received a wild card to play in Toronto for the 13th time. Williams, who defeated her sister, Serena, in the 2014 ⁠National ​Bank Open semifinals before losing in the final, ​posted two aces versus six double faults against Rahkimova. She converted just one of her four break-point ​chances and saw her WTA losing streak reach 13 consecutive matches.