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Russians win all WTA events, Horna in ATP final

Elena Bovina added her name to the list of Russians to watch at next week's US Open when she beat Nathalie Dechy to win the New Haven Open on Saturday.

The world number 27 survived a mid-match wobble against her French opponent before clinching the biggest title of her career, and her third in total, 6-2 2-6 7-5.

Seventh seed Bovina thrashed higher-ranked compatriot Elena Dementieva in Friday's semifinal and her rich vein of form continued on a muggy afternoon in New Haven, Connecticut.

With Elena Likhovtseva beating Czech Iveta Benesova 6-2 6-2 to win the Forest Hills Women's Tennis Classic on Saturday, Russian women have now won eight titles on tour in 2004.

Five of the top 10 seeds in the US Open women's singles are Russian, while Bovina is seeded at 26.

Forest Hill Classic

Top seed Russian Elena Likhovtseva had a big smile on her face when she defeated Iveta Benesova 6-2, 6-2 to win the Forest Hills Classic on Saturday and claim her first WTA title in seven years.

The Russian surprised everyone a few weeks ago by reaching the final at Montreal with upset wins over top 10 players Jennifer Capriati and Anastasia Myskina.

When Likhovtseva arrived here she had a dream run as she reached the semifinals without playing a match.

She had a bye in the opening round and a walkover from the injured Marion Bartoli in the quarterfinals.

The win was her third title in 12 years on the WTA Tour.

Long Island ATP event

Luis Horna ended the unbeaten Long Island reign of two-time champion Paradorn Srichaphan, outlasting him 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) to advance to the final of the US$380,000 ATP event on Saturday.

Horna, of Peru and the world number 64, overcame a sluggish start to upset Srichaphan and hand him his first defeat in three years at the country club venue in two hours, 25 minutes.

Srichaphan, of Thailand, owned a 13-match winning streak on his way to taking the 2002 and 2003 titles here. But more than 40 unforced errors and a fightback from Horna spelled the difference on a humid night.

Srichaphan saved one of three match points he faced with his 11th ace, and salvaged another from Horna's error. But the Asian ace hit long on a forehand to lose.

The 23-year-old Horna faces a tough test in the final when he runs up against the in-form Australian Lleyton Hewitt, who advanced 6-3, 1-0 when injured Russian opponent Dimitry Tursunov retired with a back injury.

Srichaphan dominated in the first set, breaking twice and frustrating Horna with a series of stinging forehand winners.

The Thai rained down his fifth ace to earn two set points and converted on the first. He began the second set with a break, but his concentration slipped as he lost serve in the fifth game.

Horna consolidated getting the break back and took a 4-2 lead over the Thai before eventually levelling at a set each.

Horna stepped up the pressure by breaking in the fourth game before losing it in the ninth, 5-4. In the tie-breaker, Horna held his nerve to reach his first final of the season.

Tursunov was disappointed he had to withdraw from his match against Hewitt. He said: "I could easily have lost in the first round, it's been a good week for me."

The Russian was treated three years ago for stress fractures in his back and said he didn't want to risk further injury with the US Open starting today.

The Australian is now on course to win his fourth title this year.

Hewitt produced six aces in the first set, while successfully dealing with break points early on. The 2001 US Open champion increased the pressure with a love game for 4-2 and had set point with an ace before Tursunov sent a return over the baseline to lose.
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