QUEBEC CITY, Canada - For the second time this year, France's Pauline Parmentier will play for a WTA title, after the French No.8 seed defeated Great Britian's Heather Watson at the Coupe Banque Nationale présentée par IGA, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(5).

The highest-seeded player in the top half of the draw, Parmentier came through a tense final set to eventually triumph in over two-and-a-half hours in a tiebreak, winning the last three points.

The Istanbul Cup champion will look to win her second title of the season against debut finalist Jessica Pegula of the United States. 

 

The 32-year-old Parmentier served 10 aces over the course of the victory, and saved nine of the 12 break points she faced over the course of the marathon encounter.

Despite being the first of the two players to break in the match, Parmentier ultimately could not convert of three set points in the opener - all of which came on Watson's serve in the ninth game. 

The Frenchwoman fell behind 0-40 in her ensuing service game, and though she managed to pull to deuce, she never held another set point over the course of the next three games, as the British No.2 won the last four games of the first set - with all four stretching past deuce at least twice.

The second set also saw Parmentier start quickly, as she won the first four games of the set overall, but the No.8 seed suffered no such lapse as she did in the first set after losing serve in the sixth game.

The World No.69 broke for a third time in the set to send a match to a decider, but neither player managed to earn a break of serve over the last 12 games of the match.

It was Watson who was left to rue missed chances in the decider, as Parmentier saved key break points at 4-4 and 5-5 in the final set before steeling her nerve to win in a tense tiebreak.