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Competing in only her seventh main draw on the WTA level, the 20-year-old Elena Rybakina collected the first WTA title in Bucharest, defeating tired qualifier Patricia Maria Tig 6-2, 6-0 in 65 minutes. Patricia Maria had to skip the entire 2018 due to injury and pregnancy, giving birth to a daughter and returning at this year's ITF events before heading to the home WTA tournament without the ranking.
Passing the qualifying round, Tig played on a very high level to reach the final where she ran out of gas, unable to find the rhythm on serve or return and propelling Elena over the top in just over an hour. Rybakina is the fourth-youngest champion on the Tour in 2019 and the fourth who claimed the title without losing a set after Sofia Kenin in Hobart, Ashleigh Barty in Birmingham and Karolina Pliskova in Eastbourne.
Dominating with deep and powerful strokes, the Kazakh fired 30 winners and just 14 unforced errors, fending off both break points she faced and taking 60% of the return points for five breaks from eight opportunities. Rybakina moved in front with a break in game three after a weak drop shot from the Romanian, fending off two break points at 3-2 and opening even bigger lead when Patricia Maria hit a double fault in game seven.
Elena sealed the opening set with a forehand winner at 5-2 and never looked back, storming over the rival in set number two to deliver a bagel and earn the title in style. Tig got broken in the first game after a loose forehand, falling 3-0 behind and allowing Rybakina to break her for the fourth straight time and move 5-0 in front.
Serving for the victory, the Kazakh held at 30 in game six to start a humble celebration of her career-best result, entering the top-70 with these points and continuing her march towards the top of the standings.