Anna Chakvetadze of Russia won the WTA Kremlin Cup, beating fifth seeded compatriot Nadia Petrova 6-4, 6-4 in Moscow yesterday.
Chakvetadze took one hour and 30 minutes to claim her second career title after winning at Guanngzhou two weeks ago to record her third win over Petrova in as many meetings.
"I was a bit lucky today as Nadia was not 100 percent fit," Chakvetadze said at the award ceremony. "Nevertheless, I'm happy to win at home. I hope the public enjoyed the match."
The 19-year-old Chakvetadze looked slightly more focused from the start breaking her opponent's serve twice in the opening set to a 1-0 lead in 51 minutes, while Petrova, who was unbeaten in the finals this year, broke back once.
In the second Chakvetadze, 24th in the WTA rankings, produced two breaks again to gain a commanding 4-1 advantage.
Last week's winner at Stuttgart, Petrova reduced the arrears with a break in the sixth game but failed to save the day as Chakvetadze held her advantage through winning the set, the match and her second consecutive title.
Champion Chakvetadze received US$196,900 and a silver trophy with runner-up Petrova pocketing a US$105,800 purse.
Later yesterday Russians Nikolay Davydenko, fifth seed here, and unseeded former world No. 1 Marat Safin were to decide the winner in the ATP section of the US$2.34 million combined event.
Teenage sensation Vania King of the US defeated Thai No. 1 Tamarine Tanasugarn yesterday in the final of the Bangkok Open to claim her maiden WTA singles title.
The 17-year-old American, who turned pro in July, came back from one set down to beat Tamarine 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 24 minute match.
Tamarine's powerful ground-strokes caused problems early on for King, who lost the first set 2-6 in 41 minutes after a string of unforced errors.
The young California-based player came back well. She made a solid start to the second set and broke her opponent to lead 5-3, only for the Thai No. 1 to break back immediately.
Tamarine saved two break points in the next game before finally yielding up the set 4-6 with an unforced error.
King had to come from behind in the final set after trailing 1-4, but did so racking up five games on the trot to take it 6-4 and win the first singles tournament of her fledgling professional career.
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