MEMPHIS, Tennessee - Marina Erakovic became the first New Zealander since 1989 to win a WTA title, lifting her first career trophy with a truncated triumph on Saturday over third-seeded German Sabine Lisicki in Memphis.
Erakovic confidently raced to a 6-1 first-set win, and the the US Indoor Tennis Championships title was hers when the struggling Lisicki retired.
The big-hitting German had been battling an undisclosed illness for several days.
Erakovic, who was runner-up to Sofia Arvidsson in Memphis last year, fired four aces and converted both of her break-point opportunities in racing through the first set in 27 minutes.
Her run to the championship match had included a second-round revenge victory over Arvidsson.