TheSportsCampus

< Prev		Next >

Svetlana Kuznetsova has finally succeeded at the fifth time of asking. In the final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, the 23-year-old Russian gave her countrywoman Dinara Safina no chance when defeating the world number 1 in only 79 minutes 6-4, 6-3. The world No. 9's reward for her first tournament win since New Haven in 2007 was 107,000 dollars in prize money and a white Porsche Boxster S.

Safina started the brighter of the two, however missed three break opportunities at 1-1 in the opening set.

Serving behind, Safina's serve was rarely threatened in the set till the 10th game, when Kuzne tsova pounced to break serve and also wrap up the set 6-4 in 43 minutes.

In what seemed like an instant replay of the first set, Safina again failed to convert two break opportunities at 1-1 in the second set.

Kuznetsova on the other hand was lethal, breaking the Safina serve to go 4-2 up.

Despite a slight hiccup, Kuznetsova was strong enough to close out the second set 6-3.

"Winning here is a great feeling," said Svetlana Kuznetsova after her triumph in Stuttgart's Porsche Arena. "It's been a while since I last won a tournament. I was a little nervous at the start but I then got better and better and put Dinara under more and more pressure. I played my best tennis of the tournament today."

After winning the final, Svetlana Kuznetsova was handed the key for the 310 hp main prize by Wendelin Wiedeking, CEO of the Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart. "I've already got a Porsche 911 Targa back home and I'll be taking delivery of a Cayenne in a few weeks," revealed the delighted winner when going on a lap of honour around Centre Court. "But it's a wonderful feeling actually winning one of these beautiful cars."

Dinara Safina was a fair winner. "I just wasn't feeling that good on court today," said the world No. 1. "Svetlana put me under pressure right from the start and played really well. She deserved to win the Porsche. All in all it has been a good week. Compared to my other appearances here, it was a big improvement. I was at least in the final. It's a shame I couldn't win the Porsche but I'll be back next year and hopefully I'll make the next step."

After the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix's premiere on clay, Laura Ceccarelli, the WTA Tour Supervisor, also was very positive when taking stock of the week in Stuttgart. "The tournament was quite special as it was the world's first ever indoor clay court tournament. Last year I said if there's anybody that could tackle such a challenge, then it's Porsche. They have been successful. It's a real pleasure coming here and, as usual, everything was perfect. The players have again voted the event as their favourite tournament and the best on the tour - for the second time in a row."

The win in the doubles competition went to Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) and Nadia Petrova (Russia). They defeated Gisela Dulko (Argentina) and Flavia Pennetta (Italy) 5-7, 6-3, 10-7.