PRAGUE (AFP) -- Japan's Nao Hibino completed a fairytale journey from lucky loser to champion as she beat Czech teenager Linda Noskova in straight sets on Monday, Aug. 7,  to win the rain-hit Prague Open.

Hibino, 28, swept aside fourth seed Noskova 6-4, 6-1 in the final disrupted by rain.

She added a third WTA title to her previous wins at Tashkent in 2015 and Hiroshima in 2019.

"I'm really grateful to have made it to the final today," said Hibino.

"It was a tough week with all the rain."

The final had to be suspended when Hibino, the world number 136, was 4-1, 30-0 up in the second set because of rain plaguing the tournament since Saturday.

Hibino already had to complete her semifinal against Romania's Jaqueline Cristian on Monday morning, but she only spent five minutes on the court.

The rain washed out Saturday's programme and the semifinals were postponed to Sunday, which were further delayed due to rain.

Noskova, 18, managed hers in straight sets, while Hibino's semifinal was suspended after five hours and three disruptions with the Japanese player leading 5-2 in the third set.

In windy and chilly conditions, the 71st-ranked Noskova started the final brilliantly and took a 3-0 lead, but Hibino came back fast.

More patient throughout the match, Hibino took the first set with a break of serve and then cruised on to take the honours as Noskova kept piling up errors, double-faulting on match point.