Safarova wins Quebec title

Quebec City - Czech third seed Lucie Safarova defeated New Zealand's sixth-seeded Marina Erakovic 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday in the final of the $235 000 WTA Bell Challenge.

Safarova saved five of six break points she faced while winning five of six chances to crack Erakovic. Safarova connected on 66 percent of her first serves and broke in the last game to take the crown after 89 minutes.

Safarova, ranked 48th, captured her first title of the year and the fifth of her career. It was the 12th career final for the 26-year-old left-hander, who had lost in 2009 in her prior Quebec City championship match appearance.

Croatian-born Erakovic, ranked 68th, won her first WTA title earlier this year at Memphis and reached her first tour final at Quebec City two years ago. She missed the event last year with a right hip injury.

The final was a rematch of their only prior meeting, a second-round encounter at the 2009 Australian Open in which Safarova edged Erakovic 9-7 in the third set.