Tennis: Errani makes Italian history in Palermo

Italy's Sara Errani plays a forehand shot during her third round women's singles defeat to Kazakhstan's Yaroslava Shvedova on day six of the 2012 Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on June 30, 2012. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL

PALERMO – Sara Errani captured the Palermo Open on Sunday to become the first Italian ever to win four WTA titles in a season.

Errani, who had already won claycourt events at Acapulco, Barcelona and Budapest this year, routed eighth seed Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in the final, 6-1, 6-3.

“It wasn’t easy like the score looks – Barbora was playing very aggressively and it was tough for me,” said French Open runner-up Errani.

The previous record for most WTA titles in a season for an Italian came just last year, as Errani’s best friend and doubles partner, Roberta Vinci, won three, at Barcelona, ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Budapest.

“I wasn’t thinking about the record today, but I’m very happy to have the record – to win four tournaments in a season is incredible for me,” Errani said.

“It’s a magic period for me. This year I’ve played some fantastic tennis on clay, losing only a few matches, but I really want to improve my results on hard and grass.”