Peng wins Tianjin Open title

Cape Town - China's Peng Shuai defeated Alison Riske to win the Tianjin Open on Sunday for her first WTA International title.

The 30-year-old Peng defeated American Riske 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 in a match lasting one hour and 46 minutes.

In the opening set, there were four breaks of serve, two apiece, and the set needed to be decided by a tie-break which Peng won 7-3.

Peng, who lives in Tianjin, started off the next set by claiming Riske serve in the opening game then holding her own serve to lead 2-0.

A further break in the fifth game put Peng in charge and she never looked back winning the set and match 6-2.

Due to rain delays both finalists were forced to play their semi-finals earlier in the day. 

Peng battled past Danka Kovinic of Montenegro 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 while Riske upset second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.