Final day in Moscow.
2021 VTB Kremlin Cup - a WTA 500 tournament, on Hard Indoor, in Moscow, Russia, 18-24 October 2021.
Event not held last year due to COVID-19.
2019 champion (not defending):
Wildcard Belinda Bencic (3) who defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 3-6 6-1 6-1
Final:
Ekaterina Alexandrova (Russia) v Anett Kontaveit (9) (Estonia)
Kontaveit won the only previous match between the players, in three sets in Ostrava 12 months ago.
Alexandrova was aiming to win her second WTA title in her third final.
Kontaveit was attempting to take home her fourth title from her eleventh final. (three titles were won in finals - two this year). Additionally the Grampians Trophy was shared with Ann Li after their final was cancelled in February this year - time ran out due to quarantine before the Australian Open.
Kontaveit saved three break points in the third of set one, and a further three break points in the fifth game.
Alexandrova managed to convert the fourth break chance created in that game to lead 3-2.
No more problems emerged on serve for the set which the Russian wrapped up 6-4.
Alexandrova broke the Estonian serve twice to lead 3-0 in set two. After saving two break points, Alexandrova extended the advantage to 4-0.
Then the Russian wheels fell off. Kontaveit won six straight games to level the match 4-6 6-4.
Set three went with serve for eight games, then Alexandrova once more took the edge, breaking for 5-4.
Serving for the match, the Russian was broken, and Kontaveit consolidated to lead 6-5.
Alexandrova saw two game points disappear as she served to stay in the match. Kontaveit converted the first match point that arrived, and won the match 4-6 6-4 7-5.
Title number four, and a six place jump in the rankings to #14 - equalling Kontaveit’s career high.
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