CANBERRA, Australia, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Meghann Shaughnessy of the United States coasted to her third career WTA Tour title Saturday.
The second-seeded Shaughnessy crushed Italian fifth seed Francesca Schiavone, 6-1, 6-1, in just 53 minutes to capture the Canberra Women's Classic.
Shaughnessy, who reached the final at Sydney a year ago, overcame the blustery conditions to collect the top prize of $16,000 at this Tier V Australian Open tune-up and add to her 2000 Shanghai and 2001 Quebec crowns.
"It was pretty tough conditions out there today, it was windy and tough. So I was very pleased with how I performed," Shaughnessy said. "I came here with my ankle a little bit injured and I had to withdraw last week (from the Gold Coast event).
"The fact that it held up so well was great, and then to top things off by winning the tournament fills me with a lot of confidence leading into the Australian Open."
Ranked 30th in the world at the end of 2002, Shaughnessy did not drop a set this week and now looks to improve upon her third-round finish at the Australian Open a year ago.
The 23-year-old Shaughnessy's best Grand Slam results came in 2001, when she advanced to the round of 16 at the French Open and Wimbledon.
The 22-year-old Schiavone still awaits her first tour title but managed to reach her second final. She also accomplished the feat at the 2000 Tashkent event.
