Ukrainian Bondarenko wins first Tour title

LUXEMBOURG, Oct 1 (Reuters) Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko won her first WTA Tour title on Sunday when she beat Italian fifth seed Francesca Schiavone 6-3 6-2 to capture the Luxembourg Championship.

The unseeded 22-year-old breezed to victory in 68 minutes, inflicting Schiavone's eighth defeat in eight Tour finals.

''I'm just very happy now,'' Bondarenko said.

''This is my first WTA Tour victory and I hope it's not my last.

I think I'm playing well right now.

''Yesterday I was very nervous (in the semi-final) but today I didn't think about it being a final. I just tried to play and concentrate on every point.'' Schiavone beat Bondarenko in their only previous meeting, at the French Open earlier this year, but the Ukrainian was on top from the start, breaking three times on her way to the first set.

The Italian was powerless to stop Bondarenko as she broke twice more in the second to clinch a victory which means she will move into the world's top 50 when the new rankings are released tomorrow.

Despite missing yet another chance to break her tournament duck, Schiavone admitted she had been outplayed.

''I think she played great,'' Schiavone said.

''She only gave me three or four chances in the whole match. So I'm not too disappointed.'' REUTERS SY PM2244