Oh Mai! Hontama downs Tauson for W40 Maribor title

Mai Hontama collected her first title of the year - and fourth overall - on the ITF World Tennis Tour after seeing off tournament favourite Clara Tauson in the title match at W40 Maribor.

The 23-year-old Japanese player won 6-4 3-6 6-4 to add another piece of silverware to her cabinet following her triumph at W60 Sydney in November.

Hontama’s victory was just her second victory over a Top 150 player in a completed match since she overcame Caroline Garcia and Shelby Rogers at the WTA tournament in Chicago two years ago.

It was also her second career scalp of Tauson, albeit coming after the Dane’s injury-affected withdrawal from their first-round clash at Wimbledon last year – a match that remains the Japanese player’s lone Grand Slam main draw match-win.

Tauson, who peaked at No. 33 in the world last February, is still on the comeback trail following an injury-affected 12 months in which she struggled with back and foot injuries.

Meanwhile, former world No. 47 Wang Yafan, of China, won the title as a qualifier at W60 Sydney on Sunday. Wang defeated six Australian players – including Olivia Gadecki 7-5 6-0 in the title match – to win her 13th professional title and third at W60 level.

Wang ended her season in May after falling in the second round at W25 Nottingham and – despite returning to action in Australia in February - dropped as low as No. 696 in the WTA rankings in March.

Jacqueline Adina Cristian was also back amongst the title winners this weekend, adding to her triumph at W60 Trnava at the turn of this month with victory on Spanish soil at W52 Palmanova - the 13th title of her career on the ITF World Tennis Tour.

Catch up with all the weekend's winners on the women's ITF World Tennis Tour here