Mariana Duque Marino downs Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-3 to claim home Colombian title

Duque Marino beats Kerber for Colombia title

BOGOTA, Colombia — Hometown favorite Mariana Duque Marino beat fifth-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-4 6-3 on Sunday to win the Copa Colsanitas clay court tournament for her first WTA title.

Duque Marino took the last three games of the first set and five of the last six games of the second to win in just under one hour, 20 minutes.

“It was a difficult match in both sets,” she said. “Playing a final is never easy for every reason — physically, mentally. So, I’m proud I won today.”

Duque Marino, whose best result before this week was a quarterfinal finish here two years ago, is Colombia’s first WTA singles champion since Fabiola Zuluaga won five titles from 1999 to 2004.

“Coming into this season I didn’t think I would win a WTA Tour title so this has been incredible. I ran so much. The hard work paid off,” Duque Marino said.