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Safina crushes Kuznetsova
21/09/2008 11:18 - (SA)
Tokyo - Fourth seed Dinara Safina
overpowered fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-1 6-3 to win
the Pan Pacific Open title on Sunday.
After posting her fourth tournament victory of 2008, this
year's French Open runner-up and US Open semi-finalist is
poised to rise to a career-high third in the world when
Monday's rankings are published.
The triumph was also Safina's third Tier One title of the
year following wins in Berlin and Montreal.
The 22-year-old came out with all guns blazing, breaking
for a 3-1 lead with a lunging backhand volley before closing
out the first set with a blistering ace.
Fifth seed Kuznetsova was unable to match her opponent's
power as the contest progressed and Safina moved in for the
kill when she whipped a forehand past the former US Open
champion to gain the decisive break in the fifth game of the
second set.
Kuznetsova, who helped Russia retain their Fed Cup title in
Spain last weekend, did not give up without one last throw of
the dice but was left yelling out in frustration after missing
a forehand that would have hauled her back to 4-4.
Safina wasted little time sealing the emphatic victory in
the next game when a Kuznetsova drop shot floated wide.
- Reuters
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