American Lauren Davis ends six year WTA title drought with a brilliant performance in the final of the Hobart International 2023. Davis – who has not featured in a tour level final since winning in Auckland in 2017 – became the fourth qualifier in the past 11 years to lift the Angie Cunningham Trophy with a 7-6(0) 6-2 victory over rising Italian star Elisabetta Cocciaretto. The result saw her jump 27 places in the world rankings to No. 57 ahead of next week’s Australian Open, where the 29-year-old will carry plenty of confidence into her round one clash against Danka Kovinic, who withdrew from Hobart with knee soreness. “I’m so excited. We put in a lot of hard work over the off-season and really just the accumulation over the past several years,” said Davis, who did not drop a set all week. In stifling 32 degree heat Davis and Cocciaretto slugged it out in an enthralling first set, with both players trading blows from the back of court. Davis saved six break point chances and the ...