Bengaluru, Feb 22 (NationPress) The third seed, Hanne Vandewinkel, hailing from Belgium and ranked World No. 124, capped off a remarkable week with a decisive 6-0, 6-1 victory over wildcard Vaishnavi Adkar in the finals of the ITF Women’s Open W100 Bengaluru 2026. Adkar, a talented 21-year-old from Pune, ranked World No. 690, showcased her skills in what was the most significant match of her career, becoming the first Indian woman since Sania Mirza to reach an ITF W100 final. However, it was evident from the outset that Vandewinkel's experience and consistency were pivotal.

For her outstanding performance, Vandewinkel earned 100 WTA ranking points along with USD 15,239 in prize money. Conversely, Adkar received 65 ranking points and USD 8,147, which will enhance her standing in the rankings.

The Belgian player gained an early advantage by breaking Adkar's serve, establishing a quick 3-0 lead by capitalizing on unforced errors and effectively controlling the match with her forehand. By maintaining consistent depth from the baseline, Vandewinkel secured the first set 6-0 with a service ace.

The second set mirrored the first, with an early break giving the World No. 124 the upper hand. Adkar showed determination in the third game, hitting several winners to hold her serve for the first time. She later created three break points in the fourth game when Vandewinkel briefly lost focus.

Vandewinkel wisely adjusted her returns and varied her patterns to disrupt Adkar’s timing. She saved all three break points and maintained her lead at 3-1, continuing to apply pressure. The Belgian pushed Adkar to deuce once more before extending her lead to 4-1. Despite Adkar's efforts to extend rallies and provoke errors, Vandewinkel remained composed.

In the seventh game, Vandewinkel reached two match points, clinching the victory on the second and securing the championship in just over an hour.

“Coming into the match, it felt a bit unknown, but I was aware that she had defeated some strong players. I didn't want to underestimate her, as she had shown great tennis in her recent matches. I focused from the start, making her work for each point, and I believe I executed that plan well,” Vandewinkel remarked after winning the title.

“It was a solid week for me, and I learned a lot. After a challenging year, this week has been incredibly beneficial. I feel much more confident in my game now,” Adkar reflected positively after the final.

Although the final proved to be a step too far, Adkar's journey as a wildcard marked a significant milestone. She triumphed over several higher-ranked opponents and reached a historic W100 final, breaking into the top 500 for the first time in her career. She is now set to be the second-highest-ranked Indian.