Kuala lumpur: Karolina Pliskova shrugged off a first-set thrashing and a 40-minute rain delay to win her first WTA singles crown at the BMW Malaysian Open.
The Czech, who was playing in her first WTA final, broke American wildcard Bethanie Mattek-Sands' heart with a come-from-behind 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory in 106 minutes in Kuala Lumpur.
Mattek-Sands, fresh from victory with doubles partner Sania Mirza of India at last week's Dubai Duty Free Championships, took the first set 6-1.
Pliskova, 20, the 2010 Australian Open junior champion, upped her game in the second set as she broke her opponent twice to win the set in 44 minutes.
The third set was even at 1-1 when rain disrupted play for 40 minutes, with Pliskova looking refreshed after the break and prevailing over Mattek-Sands to clinch the biggest payday of her career.
The field was thrown open earlier in the week when top seed and former world number one Caroline Wozniacki crashed out in the first round to qualifier Wang Qiang of China.
Mattek-Sands, who has 12 doubles titles to her name will now have to wait longer for a first singles crown.
Pliskova received $40,000 for the title while Mattek-Sands pocketed $20,000.