Qualifier wins Hobart title

Hobart - Spanish qualifier Garbine Muguruza won her first WTA title with a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Czech seventh seed Klara Zakopalova in the final of the Hobart International on Saturday.

Muguruza, ranked 58, had too much power for Zakopalova, with her groundstrokes taking her to victory in 70 minutes.

The Venezuelan-born 20-year-old joined Germany's Mona Barthel, who won in 2012, as the only qualifiers to win the Hobart tournament.

It ended a big week for Muguruza, who knocked out second seed and Wimbledon semi-finalist Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium on the way to her first WTA final.

Muguruza did not drop a set from the qualifiers to the final as she tuned up for a first-round meeting with Estonian 24th seed Kaia Kanepi at next week's Australian Open in Melbourne.

She swept aside compatriot Estrella Cabeza Candela 6-0, 6-1 in the semi-finals to set up her final with Zakopalova.

The 37th-ranked Czech had beaten top seed Sam Stosur 6-3, 6-2 in the semis and will meet the Australian again in the opening round of the Open.