Worth the wait for Bondarenko

Nine years after winning her first WTA Tour singles title, Kateryna Bondarenko has claimed a second.

The 31-year-old world No.133 upset Hungarian Timea Babos to win Tashkent, scoring a 6-4 6-4 victory over her No.52-ranked opponent.

“The win here means a lot,” Bondarenko said. “I was practicing every day, my coach who came with me for last two weeks helped me. I had been a quarterfinalist twice here, so have some experience of playing here – but the draw here was tough with six champions participating.”

????Incredible, look how much it means to her ????
Bravo, Kateryna!???????????? #WTA #TashkentOpen #tennis #Ukraine #Bondarenko #TeamUkraine????????[NetSpor] pic.twitter.com/VdM4j1bvQs

— TennisUkraine (@UkrainianTennis) September 30, 2017

A lot has changed for Bondarenko since winning her first title in Birmingham in June 2008.

The Australian Open 2008 women’s doubles champion took an 18-month break from the game, giving birth to her daughter, Karin, in 2013.

She now travels with her daughter, who joined her on court as she celebrated her unexpected Tashkent title win.

Baby Bondarenko is feeling cold, while they are waiting Award ceremony.#tashkent pic.twitter.com/Vh9zfB5C6I

— Ashish TV (@Ashish__TV) September 30, 2017

“(I) never thought about the title,” Bondarenko admitted. “(Only) when I was leading (in the final), I thought I had a realistic chance to win.”

The victory propels Bondarenko back into the world’s top 100 and makes her the first mother to win a tour-level event since Kim Clijsters in 2011.