Hercog lasts Lugano distance against teenager Swiatek

Iga Swiatek's first WTA Tour level final ended in defeat as Polona Hercog lasted the distance in a 6-3 3-6 6-3 victory in the Ladies Open Lugano showpiece.

Teenager Swiatek, last year's Wimbledon junior champion, was playing in just her third main draw this week.

Holding serve proved a tricky task in the first set for the 17-year-old, who was broken in four service games out of five.

It was a decidedly better showing in the second and Hercog was broken three times herself as the match was taken into a third set.

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Swiatek had her eyes on the prize when taking a 2-0 lead in the decider, but she would win just one more game as Hercog celebrated a third career WTA title and first in seven years.