Muy bien! Osorio turns back Vekic for PWO crown

Camila Osorio of Colombia emerged Saturday as the first-ever Philippine Women’s Open (PWO) women’s singles champion.

The fifth-seed Osorio, ranked No. 84 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) overcame a sluggish first set  and got past No. 72 Donna Vekic of Croatia, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, to clinch the title in two hours and 31 minutes of action.

Osorio, 24, didn’t only win the prestigious WTA tournament organized by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Lawn Tennis Association but also the hearts of the Filipino crowd in attendance at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

“Well, I have no words to describe how I’m feeling right now. I’m super, super happy,” said Osorio, a 2019 US Open girls’ singles champion.

“Super happy and honored to be here in the Philippines for the first time and for all of you guys, it’s been such a pleasure to play here.”

“It’s been unreal for all of us players and how you treat them guys. I hope to come back in the future.”

Osorio had a slow start in the match after Vekic broke her serve in the first set.

She was able to bounce back in the second set as she held her serve and went on a 3-0 lead en route to a 6-3 set win.

Osorio and Vekic then fought tooth-and-nail in the final set as it went on a 5-5 stalemate.

Osorio broke Vekic’s serve in the 11th game and held her serve in the 12th to seal the match.

The former world No. 33 netter said she made adjustments midway as she tried to counter Vekic’s strength.

“I didn’t want to stay on one side because you can tell she’s stronger and taller than me. I was just trying to be smart on court and trying to change the rhythm,” Osorio said.

Osorio began her campaign by dispatching Sakura Hosogi of Japan, 6-4, 6-3, in the Round of 32 and took down another Japanese in Mai Hontama, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, in the Last 16.