Melbourne VIC, Australia, 6 April 2015 | David Packman

Zoe Hives, 18, has won her first Australian Pro Tour title with a convincing victory over fellow Victorian Sally Peers at the 2015 Melbourne Park Women’s International.

“It’s just a great feeling to get the win,” Hives said after her 7-5 6-2 on the clay at the National Tennis Centre.

“I didn’t really expect it to happen this week, I was just going out and trying to play my game, so I was happy to end up with the title.”

Hives has been in some great form of late, qualifying in Mildura before making an impressive run to the semifinal. While that result gave her some confidence, she has kept her feet on the ground.

“I went into each match here thinking I could win but it was more about the process than the result,” she said.

Hives and Peers have fought out some long matches in recent times, and after a tight first set it looked as though the Melbourne Park final would prove no different.

However, Hives lifted a gear and made short work of her 23-year-old opponent in the second.

“The first set was really close,” she said. “It was a battle and few points just went my way. Then I started hitting it a bit better and played a bit more relaxed.”

With her current world ranking of No.736 sure to receive a boost, Hives is keeping her scheduling options open.

“I’m going into a training block now and we haven’t decided yet what we will be doing after that,” she said.

Unseeded Aussie pair Priscilla Hon and Tammi Patterson were successful in the doubles, after coming from behind to narrowly claim the title 2-6 6-4 [12-10] over Polish fourth seeds Agata Baranska and Sandra Zaniewska.