Kaia Kanepi wins Brussels Open over Peng Shuai

Estonia's Kaia Kanepi made the French Open quarterfinals last year.

Virginie Lefour/AFP/Getty Images

Kaia Kanepi of Estonia beat Peng Shuai of China 6-2, 7-5 to win the Brussels Open on Saturday.

Kanepi won the fourth tournament in her WTA career by racing out to a big lead before surviving some late jitters. She heads to the French Open, which starts on Sunday, with a boost.

`'This win gives me confidence and I feel good going to Roland Garros," 27-year-old Kanepi said.

The sun finally broke out over the Heysel courts on Saturday after a week filled with frustration over the unusually cold and wet conditions.

`'It has been a really tough week because wind and weather and cold," she said. The long delays forced the players to finish both semis and final on the same day.

In Saturday morning's semifinals, eighth-seeded Peng defeated Romina Oprandi of Switzerland in a tough three-setter, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

Kanepi moved into the final by edging Jamie Hampton of the United States, 7-6 (6), 6-4.

The players were given a few hours rest before their final later Saturday.

Peng, ranked 34th in the world, already reached the final in 2011. Kanepi is 40th in the WTA rankings and reached the semifinals in Brussels last year