Elina Svitolina sees off Timea Babos in final

Elina Svitolina held her nerve over two tightly contested sets to overcome Timea Babos 7-5 7-6 (7-3) in the final of the Grand Prix de SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem.

The Ukranian fourth seed edged her way to the opener and was pushed to the limit once again as world number 86 Babos looked to force a decider.

But Svitolina ultimately made her class tell in the tie-break, prevailing 7-3 to lift the title in Marrakech.

Neither player was secure on their own serve, with Svitolina broken three times but decisively saving eight more break points.

Babos dropped serve four times, while world number 25 Svitolina stuck nine aces to her Hungarian opponent's four.

The Grand Prix de SAR crown marks a third triumph in as many WTA finals for Svitolina, who won in Baku in 2013 and 2014.