The Australian tennis number two Jarmila Groth claimed a major boost ahead of her home open with a 6-4 6-3 victory over American Bethanie Mattek-Sands to win the Hobart women's International title.
Blustery conditions made serving a lottery but Slovakia-born Groth, who beat Australia's number one Sam Stosur on her way to the last eight in Brisbane last week, battled her way through to her second career title in 73 minutes.
Groth has never been past the first round in five attempts at Melbourne Park and faces 21st seed Belgian Yanina Wickmayer in her opener this year.
She did, however, reach the fourth round at Roland Garros and Wimbledon last year in her first full season as an Australian citizen before claiming her maiden tour title in Guangzhou.
