Unheralded Slovakian Rybarikova wins first WTA title

LONDON (Reuters) - Little-known Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova won her first WTA title 6-0 7-6 against China's Li Na at the Edgbaston Classic on Sunday.

Seeded 13, the 20-year-old Rybarikova used her serve-and-volley game effectively early on against the fourth-seeded Li to breeze through the first set.

Rybarikova, ranked 38 places below Li, then ground out a close second set by winning the tie-break 7-2 for a victory that is likely to take the Slovakian to her highest ranking position. Her previous best was 46 in February this year.

She was junior Wimbledon runner-up in 2006 but, after two attempts in the main draw, has yet to progress past the first round.

(Reporting by Tom Pilcher, Editing by Clare Fallon)