Ruano Pascual wins Tashkent Open

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Fourth seed Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain defeated No. 3 Saori Obata of Japan, 6-2, 7-6 (7-2), Sunday to win the Tashkent Open.

Ruano Pascual used her experience to top Obata, who was making her first WTA Tour final appearance. The 30-year-old Madrid native captured her third career title and her first since 1998 in Budapest. She captured her first crown at Cardiff in 1997.

Ruano Pascual avenged a loss to Obata at Canberra in January.

The 25-year-old Obata failed to win her first title but surpassed her prior best result. She reached her first semifinal a month ago in Bali.