Winning her home event in Florianapolis highlighted the unlikely rise of Teliana Pereira, with her victory providing both personal and national achievement.
It is Pereira's second WTA title, and she is now the second Brazilian to win a WTA event in Brazil. Ranked No. 130, Pereira was the lowest-ranked player to win a WTA title this season when she captured her first title at Bogota, but she finds herself at No. 48 following her second championship.
The 27-year-old said she had "no words to describe what I'm feeling right now" with her three-set win against Annika Beck. "When I came here I didn't know if I would be able to play—my knee wasn't so well—so I can't believe I managed this victory."
Born in a small, economically challenged town, Pereira left when her father moved the family to Curitiba, where he found work at a tennis facility. Pereira's brothers began playing there, and she eventually joined them. She is coached by her brother, Renato.
"My family has a very beautiful history, from where we came from and everything we've managed to achieve," she told WTAtour.com.
Having also returned from a knee injury that sidelined her for more than a year, she ascribes her own success to her fighting spirit. "Something that inspires me is when people call me a warrior. It describes me perfectly. I know I don't have the best forehand, or the best backhand, but I feel privileged to have this characteristic."
Pereira is the top-ranked WTA player from South America.