Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova snapped a two year title drought when she stunned world No. 1 Dinara Safina 6-4, 6-3 to win the Stuttgart Grand Prix on Sunday.
Kuznetsova, the world No. 9, was more consistent than fellow Russian Safina, holding her serve throughout to clinch her first tournament of the year.
The former US Open champion had struggled with three-set victories in earlier rounds but picked up her game when it really mattered, ousting world No. 3 Elena Dementieva in the last four, and then Safina.
PHOTO: AFP
Both players held serve in the opening games with Safina missing three quick break points at 1-1.
Kuznetsova, 23, finally conquered Safina’s serve at 5-4 to clinch the first set after 43 minutes.
Safina, who had struggled to a three-set semi-final victory over Flavia Pennetta on Saturday, failed to convert two more break points at 1-1 in the second set.
But her opponent was in no such mood when she carved out two opportunities to go 4-2 up.
Safina briefly managed to pull one back before losing the second set 6-3.
■ROME MASTERS
Rafael Nadal overcame stubborn early resistance from defending champion Novak Djokovic to claim a record fourth Rome Masters title with a 7-6, 6-2 win on Sunday.
The Spaniard took the first set in a tiebreak before breaking the Serbian third seed twice in the second set to bag his fifth title of the year.
Nadal enjoyed a flying start to the match, which had been slightly delayed because a spectator fell ill during the warm-up, breaking in the opening game.
The Spaniard looked unstoppable and had a set point in the ninth game on Djokovic’s serve but let his advantage slip. Nadal dropped serve in the next game with some uncharacteristic loose forehands, allowing the Serb to level at 5-5.
Djokovic smashed a racket for the second time this week when he immediately conceded serve again.
The 21-year-old Serb, who rallied to beat Roger Federer in the semis, quickly regained composure to forge back on level terms and the crowd got behind him sensing a surprise only for Nadal to run away with the tiebreak 7-2.
The top seed saved a break point at the start of the second and things stayed tight until a double fault cost Djokovic his serve in the sixth game.
Nadal broke again and sealed victory with a forehand pass.
■ITALIAN OPEN
REUTERS, ROME
Twice former champion Amelie Mauresmo was knocked out of the Italian Open in the first round on Sunday when she suffered a 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 defeat to Spain’s Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.
In the second round, Martinez Sanchez will meet Mauresmo’s 11th seeded compatriot Marion Bartoli, who beat China’s Peng Shuai 6-0, 7-6.
Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei beat Italy’s Mara Santangelo in the first qualifying round on Friday but missed out on a place in the main draw when she lost 6-2, 6-1 to Jill Craybas of the US on Saturday.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY STAFF WRITER
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