WTA Morocco Open: Pavlyuchenkova wins 10th WTA title

It was the Russian's second title in as many months after winning on the hard surface of Monterrey in April and, after reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, she will be fancying a tilt at the French Open now.

She triumphed thanks to a 7-5 7-5 victory over her Italian opponent.

"We've had tough matches on clay before so I knew it was going to be tough," Pavlyuchenkova said on court afterwards.

"I'm so happy and relieved I won. A win is a win and I love to win."

Also lifting silverware on Saturday was German qualifier Mona Barthel who won a first WTA title since 2014 as she recovered from a set down to beat Kristyna Pliskova in the Prague Open.

The Czech took the first set 6-2 but Barthel hit back to win the next two 7-5 6-2.

It was her fourth WTA title, having previously won in Hobart, Paris and Bastad.

"I still can't believe it," she said. "It was a long and tough week. I am completely exhausted. Today I woke up and was feeling so bad. I was like 'come on, one more day'."