Elena Dementieva defeated second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 4-6, 6-3 and 6-2 in an all-Russian final at the Dubai tennis championship to win her ninth career title on Saturday.
Russia's Elena Dementieva celebrates after beating compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova at the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships March 1, 2008.
It was the eighth seed's first trophy since she won in Moscow in October while Kuznetsova suffered her second defeat in the final of the event, losing to Justine Henin in 2004.
"I feel so happy," Dementieva said. "This was my first time at this event and it is such a big win. I played probably my best match for a long time."
In an exchange of seven breaks in the first set, Kuznetsova went 2-0 ahead but lost the next three games before winning the following three to lead 5-3.
In the second set, Dementieva's pace forced a number of errors from Kuznetsova and broke twice to go 4-1 up. Although Kuznetsova recovered one break in the sixth game, Dementieva broke again for the set.
Russia's Elena Dementieva lifts her trophy after defeating compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova at the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships March 1, 2008.
Dementieva maintained her momentum in the decider, breaking for 2-0 before going on to claim the winner's cheque of $250,000.
Kuznetsova was unhappy with her performance. "I am very disappointed because I think I got all the chances and all the possibilities today but I just didn't take them," she said.
(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2008)