Kuznetsova to face Safina in Pan Pacific Open tennis final
Sunday, 21 September 2008
TOKYO, Sept 20 (AFP): Dinara Safina and Svetlana Kuznetsova set up an all-Russian final with crushing wins at the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament Saturday.
Safina enjoyed her first victory over compatriot Nadia Petrova 6-1, 6-0, while Kuznetsova brushed aside Slovenian qualifier Katarina Srebotnik 7-6 (7/5), 6-2.
Kuznetsova, who beat Serbian top seed Jelena Jankovic in the quarter-finals, got off to a sluggish start by losing her service in the opening game.
But the 2004 US Open champion forced the tie-breaker and cashed in on her second set point with a forehand volley.
Srebotnik, who upset Beijing Olympic gold medallist Elena Dementieva of Russia Friday, recovered from a break down in the second set to make it 2-2.
But Kuznetsova reeled off four games in a row and sealed the win on serve on on her fourth match point.
"I'm very happy to be in the final. Obviously I was not expecting to do so well as I was very tired coming from the Fed Cup," said Kuznetsova, who helped Russia beat Spain in the women's team final a week ago.
However, she said she would need to improve her serving in Sunday's final after matching her six aces with six double faults.
Safina enjoyed her first victory over compatriot Nadia Petrova 6-1, 6-0, while Kuznetsova brushed aside Slovenian qualifier Katarina Srebotnik 7-6 (7/5), 6-2.
Kuznetsova, who beat Serbian top seed Jelena Jankovic in the quarter-finals, got off to a sluggish start by losing her service in the opening game.
But the 2004 US Open champion forced the tie-breaker and cashed in on her second set point with a forehand volley.
Srebotnik, who upset Beijing Olympic gold medallist Elena Dementieva of Russia Friday, recovered from a break down in the second set to make it 2-2.
But Kuznetsova reeled off four games in a row and sealed the win on serve on on her fourth match point.
"I'm very happy to be in the final. Obviously I was not expecting to do so well as I was very tired coming from the Fed Cup," said Kuznetsova, who helped Russia beat Spain in the women's team final a week ago.
However, she said she would need to improve her serving in Sunday's final after matching her six aces with six double faults.