Source: CCTV.com

05-10-2009 11:23

It was an all-Russian affair at the WTA Tour's Italian Open final on Saturday. Top-seeded Russian Dinara Safina gained swift revenge on Svetlana Kuznetsova by thrashing her compatriot 6-3, 6-2.

Dinara Safina of Russia holds the trophy after beating her compatriot Svetlana  Kuznetsova during their final match at  the Rome Masters tennis tournament in  Rome May 9, 2009. Safina won 6-3 6-2.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Safina was looking to avenge last weekend's defeat by her opponent in another all-Russian final at the Stuttgart Grand Prix, and she started well as her backhand winner down the line allowed her to hold serve in the opening game of the first set.A couple of poor shots allowed former U.S. Open champion Kuznetsova come back to 4-3, but the top seed broke serve again immediately, and Safina held her own with ease for the first time in the match to take the set, wrapping it up with an overhead smash.

Safina, who became number one for the first time last month, then broke twice to stroll home in the second set - although Kuznetsova did manage to save two match points before bowing out with a 6-3, 6-2 defeat. It was easily Safina's most straightforward match of the week.

Dinara Safina, 2009 Italian Open Champion said "No, I am feeling great, you know. It has been such a good start to the season. You know, also such a good start to the clay-court season. I've also been working very hard on the clay, and I'm really happy that the hard work is paying off."