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Home  » Sports » Kuznetsova wins Bali title

Kuznetsova wins Bali title

September 19, 2004 17:19 IST
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Svetlana Kuznetsova followed up her U.S. Open triumph last week by defeating Germany's Marlene Weingartner in the final of the Wismilak International in Bali, Indonesia on Sunday.

The Russian's 6-1, 6-4 victory against an unseeded opponent earned her the fifth singles title of her career, and her third this year after she won in Eastbourne and New York.

The second-seeded Russian began slowly, as she had all week, but a nervous Weingartner was playing in her first career final and was unable to take advantage.

The German won more points on Kuznetsova's serve than she did on her own in the first set, but the world number six was able to stave off several break point opportunities.

Weingartner rallied well and did enough to keep the contest interesting, especially in the second set when she produced some spectacular winners.

She earned a break point to lead 4-2 but Kuznetsova saved that with a fierce backhand volley.

It was Kuznetsova who claimed the only break of the second set, for 4-3, when Weingartner netted a weak double-handed backhand. The Russian duly closed out the match.

"It was tough to go all the way through after coming from the U.S. Open," said Kuznetsova.

"I was just doing my best and didn't want to lose. I was just trying to get into form. I played well today.

"Today the key was to just stay in the match. I didn't play my best, definitely.

"I played well the first set, but Marlene couldn't find anything to play against me. In the second set she played better. She ran much more, but I was still making her run to see if she could handle it."

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Source: REUTERS
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