Lauren Davis wins the 2017 ASB Classic Women's Singles

The 2017 ASB Classic women’s winner is Lauren Davis.

In 71 minutes, she dispatched the eighth seed Ana Konjuh 6-3 6-1.

On the American’s fifth time to Auckland she secured her first ever WTA singles title. She told fans the feeling was “indescribable” as she raised the ASB Classic singles trophy. Ranked 61 in the world, she had reached two WTA finals before, both in 2016, in Washington DC and Quebec City.

“It's an incredible feeling winning my first WTA title at my favourite tournament. I've been waiting for this moment for quite a few years. My goal was to just have fun and play my game and execute my shots,” said Davis.

Her opponent 19-year-old Konjuh is also new to the finals stage, having played and won in Nottingham in 2015. Konjuh is destined for big things in women’s tennis as the youngest player inside the world’s top 50. She struggled on final’s day though, with unforced errors proving to be her undoing. She made 47 unforced errors to Davis’ 17.

On reaching the ASB Classic final Konjuh replied, “It's not the worst way to start the season. Hopefully I can bring my best game at the Australian Open.”

At 5’2” Davis didn’t overpower her opponents during the tournament but was smart and consistent as she rose above a field that included world number two Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki and ten other players ranked above her. She defeated the fifth seed Kiki Bertens in the first round, before beating Kurumi Nara, fourth seed Barbora Strycova, seventh seed Jelena Ostapenko and finally Konjuh. The two women had only played once before today and it was here in Auckland in 2014. It was Konjuh’s first WTA tournament and she had just played her first ever match as a professional tennis player. It was the round of 16 and Davis ground her down 2-6 6-2 6-2.