(Reuters) - Sloane Stephens ground down unseeded German Julia Goerges 7-5 6-2 to win the Auckland Classic on Saturday, the American ending a busy day at the office with a confidence-boosting triumph ahead of the Australian Open.
The world number 30, a former semi-finalist at Melbourne Park, secured her second WTA title, having made her long-awaited breakthrough at Washington in August.
Although she overpowered the German in a dominant second set, Stephens was made to work hard for the title, needing to first wrap up her rain-interrupted semi-final with former world number one Caroline Wozniacki 6-2 7-6(3) earlier on Saturday.