Bernarda Pera wins Aegon GB Pro-Series Gloucester

For Saturday’s singles final of the women’s $10,000 event, Oxstalls Sports Park welcomed The Right Worshipful Mayor of Gloucester Chris Chatterton and the Sheriff and Deputy Mayor of Gloucester Said Hansdot alongside other dignitaries and a large crowd of spectators.

A number of Oxstalls Be Inpsired girls’ competitions had been organised throughout the week to promote girls’ tennis and compliment the women’s international ITF Pro Circuit tournament. The girls have had the opportunity to meet the professional players, and Bernarda Pera even presented the prizes for the mini orange and green competition on Friday. One lucky girl from Saturday’s mini red competition was selected to do the coin toss for the women’s final.

The singles finalists, Bernarda Pera (USA) & Klaartje Liebens (BEL), both 19 years old, are no strangers to ITF Pro Circuit finals, having amassed 17 appearances between them during their relatively young professional careers.

The Belgian made the first break through in the second game to take a 2-0 lead, however, it was short lived as Pera fought back to level the score. Settling into the final each player then managed to hold serve, wowing the crowd with their array of shots.

Pera took a strong hold on the match when breaking Liebens again in the seventh game and dropped only three points in next three games to establish a one set lead.

After an early exchange of breaks in the second set, the young American powered her way from the back of the court, using her leftie serve to great effect. With the momentum firmly back with her, Pera reeled off four consecutive games to seal victory with a clenched fist, winning 63 61.

The title at Gloucester is Pera’s first of 2014, adding to the three titles she won in 2013, and helping her move toward her career high ranking of 354 that she achieved in October last year.

After the match Pera said “It always feels good to win of course, especially as it was a tough draw this week. I didn’t start so well, I dropped my serve in the second game, but I came back and I am happy.

When asked about her best memory of the week, Pera said “I think it would be the final as there were a lot of people watching, there was great support.”

Oxstalls Sports Park
Darren.Morris@aspiretrust.org.uk
01452 396969

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