A Shrewsbury double for Oceane Dodin

The 19-year-old from Lille overcame the brave challenge of British qualifier Freya Christie to win a high quality final 7-6, 7-5 in front of a record Shrewsbury crowd on Saturday afternoon.

Dodin said: "I'm very happy. This is a very amazing tournament, the best for me, and I'm very happy to win this tournament twice – and maybe come back again next year."

Dodin, playing her last tournament of a successful 2015, will now take a short break before starting to prepare for the Australian Open early next year.

Nottingham-based Christie, who only turned 18 earlier this month, pushed Dodin all the way.

She relished the opportunity of playing in her first-ever $25,000 final, an entertaining clash which lasted one hour and 47 minutes.

Dodin had triumphed as a qualifier at Shrewsbury last year, so it was ironic that, having made a popular return to Shropshire to defend her title.

She was the event's top seed, she should find herself meeting Christie, who had reached the final this year via the same route.

Recovering from a break down in the opening set, Christie had a set point, but Dodin came up with a winner and the player currently ranked 149 in the world held her nerve to edge the ensuing tie-break.

With both players hitting the ball with great pace, it was one of the best finals seen in Shrewsbury.

Christie – the first Brit since Heather Watson four years earlier to grace a Shrewsbury final – once again giving an excellent account of herself.

Richard Joyner, the tournament director for the Lawn Tennis Association, said: "It has been a great week of tennis.

"The Shrewsbury Club really does go the extra mile in making the players feel welcome and I know they really appreciate the great atmosphere which is created throughout the week."