Claire Liu beat Varvara Lepchenko 6-3, 6-3 at the WTA 125K in Barranquilla, converting both of her break points while never facing one herself in the second set. Liu did not lose serve all match, saving both break points she faced, and won 38 service points to Lepchenko's 26.
The first set turned early: Liu broke in game two at 0-2 and held the cushion, winning 25 of 37 first serves while Lepchenko landed only 45% of hers. In the second, Liu broke again in game five at 2-3, then sealed it with a break in game nine at 3-6, despite Lepchenko saving two of the three break points she faced in that set.
The standout number belongs to Liu on return: 9 of 25 first-serve return points won (36%) against Lepchenko's 6 of 31 (19%), and 10 games won to five. Liu was not flawless, with four double faults and just 31% first serves in the second set, but she held every service game she played.