Russia's Ekaterina Bychkova extended her country's fine record at tournaments played in Birmingham when she won the AEGON Pro Series event at the Edgbaston Priory club.
The world No.181 came through five rounds to win the $25,000 tournament and saw off a committed British challenge en route to her final victory over Angelica Moratelli.
Bychkova follows compatriots Maria Sharapova and Vera Zvonareva, former AEGON Classic champions, in winning at Edgbaston, albeit in the new state-of-the-art indoor facilities rather than on the grass.
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Bychkova, who has been ranked inside the world’s top 100, broke Moratelli’s serve in the first game but the players traded serves until Bychkova broke for a 5-4 lead and then held serve to 15 to take the set.
The Italian qualifier started the second set strongly and raced into a 3-0 lead.
However, Bychkova dominated the rest of the set, took six straight games and the title 6-4, 6-3 in 82 minutes.
* Erdington starlet Emily Smith underlined her recent progress by reaching the quarter-finals of the Under-18 AEGON Junior International in Nottingham.
The 15-year-old, who won her first British Tour event at Edgbaston Priory a couple of months ago, made another step forward in March when she brought the GD Tennis Cup home from Turkey.
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She returned to home competition in Nottingham with wins over Francesca Brancato, Zoe Douglas and Karola Patricia Bejenaro before losing in the last eight to Georgia’s Mariam Bolkvadze.
* The Winter League tournaments are reaching a climax with Edgbaston Archery due to face Blossomfield in the last four of the mixed draw.
The victors will face Four Oaks or Streetly 2.
The Men’s event is between Marston Green, Edgbaston Priory 2, Beechwood and Archery.
The Winter Challenge Cup sees Blossomfield in the final awaiting the winners of Archery and Olton & West Warwicks.