Daniilidou claims Hobart tournament title

HOBART, Australia, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Eleni Daniilidou was awarded the championship of the Moorilla International tennis tournament in Australia when Vera Zvonareva withdrew with an ankle injury.

Daniilidou was credited with her fifth WTA title and accepted a first-place check of $25,650 when the second-seeded Zvonareva said she couldn't compete in Friday's tournament final. It was Daniilidou's first tournament championship since 2006.

"It's very special, that's for sure," said Daniilidou. "But I feel very sorry for Vera, as she has had a great week."

Zvonareva had lost only 17 games in the tournament in advancing to the finals.

"I could barely walk; it was painful right away and I thought, 'Oh my God, I have to pack my bags and go home,'" Zvonareva said Friday. "I have no expectations at the moment about the Australian (Open). Hopefully it's not as bad as it looks right now."