Player of the week: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

1991-born Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova was one of the most promising young players as she entered the Top 30 as a 17 year old after and amazing semifinal run at Indian Wells 2009, and she still was the youngest player in WTA Top 40. But this week she has become a reality as she has captured her 1st WTA title on her first WTA final appearance in Monterrey.

Anastasia had good sensations from the very beggining of the tournament, as she went through Anna Tatishvili, Polona Hercog and Klara Zakopalova dropping no more than 5 games on each match. But her first problem arised as her semifinal was cancelled due to rain and she had to face both semifinal and final in the same day. After defeating Anastasija Sevastova on a tough 3-set match, things didn't look good at all for Pavlyuchenkova as she lost the first set to Daniela Hantuchova by 6/1. But Anastasia fought back and with her big serve and powerful goundstrokes dismantled Hantuchova taking the 2nd and 3rd set by a clear 6/1 6/0.

With this victory, Pavlyuchenkova reaches her highest career ranking at #25, and this week in Indian Wells she will try to repeat her amazing 2009 run.