TASHKENT, Uzbekistan — Unseeded Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania beat Croatian teenager Donna Vekic 6-4, 6-4 in the Tashkent Open final Saturday to take home her first WTA title. Vekic, a 16-year-old qualifier who had won seven straight matches coming into the final, was looking to become the youngest winner on the WTA tour in six years. But she struggled to keep up with Begu and her serve let her down. “It feels great to win a title. I'll take back sweet memories from Tashkent,” the 87th-ranked Begu said. Barthel in semis Mona Barthel surprised defending champion Barbora Zahlavova Strycova cruising to victory in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the WTA Tour's Bell Challenge Tournament at Quebec City Friday. Barthel advances to the semifinals where she will face Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium, who was leading Anna Tatishvili 6-2, 3-0 when the Georgian retired from their match. In other quarterfinals Friday, France's Kristina Mladenovic routed American Melanie Oudin 6-0, 6-1 in just 63 minutes. Mladenovic will next square off against Lucie Hradecka for a place in the final. Czech Hradecka cruised past Lauren Davis of the United States 6-4, 6-2 in their quarterfinal match. — Agencies
