Bondarenko defeats Peer to claim Hobart International title

HOBART, Australia -- Fourth-seeded Alona Bondarenko won the Hobart International on Saturday for her second WTA Tour title, beating second-seeded Shahar Peer 6-2, 6-4 in the Australian Open warmup event.

Bondarenko, the 25-year-old Ukraine player seeded 31st in the Australian Open, beat top-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues in the semifinals Friday.

"I am very happy to have won my second WTA title and I hope it's not the last for the year," Bondarenko said. "I am looking forward to my matches next week. I am feeling good and I hope I play well."

Peer, from Israel, dropped to 5-2 in career singles finals.

"I am disappointed with today's match because I didn't find my rhythm at all," Peer said. "But it was a dream come true to be in the final in Hobart and I am ready to raise my level next week at the Australian Open."