Cancun, Mexico has turned out to be a special place for Sofia Sewing of Doral, Fla.
The 20-year-old won her second consecutive $15,000 World Tennis Tour title in Cancun, the year after winning her first career title in Cancun, last Sunday defeating 16-year-old Anastasia Sysoeva of Russia, the No. 7 seed, 7-5, 6-0 in the final.
The No. 5-seeded Sewing was a three-set machine beginning in the second round where she outlasted fellow American Madison Appel 6-1, 5-7, 6-0, then in her next quarterfinal match where she came from a set down to defeat American Sabina Dadaciu 5-7, 6-1, 6-3. In her semifinal she again grounded-out a three-set victory, defeating American and No. 8 seed Joelle Kissell 6-4, 4-6, 6-0.
Sewing displayed her fitness level during the week, defeating two opponents 6-0 in the third set while her competitors faltered coming off long matches. It was the first tournament of the year for the South Florida resident who entered the event at No. 720 on the WTA rankings. She improved to 2-1 career in ITF World Tennis Tour finals.
Sysoeva did not meet another seed until Sewing in the final and fell to 0-1 in finals in only her fourth career ITF World Tennis Tour event.
The ITF World Tennis Tour serves as the entry-level for professional tennis and sits between the ITF Junior World Tennis Tour and the elite levels of professional tennis. The results of ITF tournaments are incorporated into the ATP and WTA rankings.
