Kiwi tennis player Paige Hourigan has fallen at the last hurdle at the ASB Classic, losing the doubles final 6-1 1-6 7-10.
The pair of Hourigan and American Taylor Townsend, who were wildcard entries into the tournament, took out the first set 6-1 in just 18 minutes in a dominant display.
But Canadian Eugenie Bouchard and American Sophia Kenin bounced back in emphatic fashion, taking out the second set 6-1.
Bouchard and Kenin held their nerve in the super tie-break, hitting less unforced errors and eventually winning the final set to become champions for 2019.
It was the first appearance by a Kiwi in a final at the ASB Classic since Marina Erakovic in 2011, when she and Sofia Arvidsoon lost to Květa Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik, also in doubles.
Newshub.
