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| Francesca Schiavone of Italy holds the winner’s trophy after she defeated Olga Govortsova of Belarus at the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament’s final match in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Misha Japaridze |
MOSCOW - Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny rallied to beat Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 6-7 (5), 6-0, 6-4 Sunday to win the Kremlin Cup, while Italian Francesca Schiavone won her second career title, beating Olga Govortsova of Belarus 6-3, 6-0 for the women’s crown.
Youzhny did not drop a set on his way to a fifth career title and extended Russia’s title streak in the home event to six consecutive years since American Taylor Dent won here in 2003.
"The first set was a tough one for both of us," Youzhny said. "But in the second set he appeared to be really tired after a tough doubles match he had played late on Saturday."
Tipsarevic, who had not lost a set on the way to his first ATP Tour final, said: "I’m obviously disappointed because I’ve lost. But I think, I didn’t lose today - Misha (Mikhail) beat me. He was a better player. Though the third set was 6-4, I was really struggling to win my service games, while he was winning his very easy."
The sixth-seeded Serb prevailed on the first-set tiebreaker, but the 30th-ranked Youzhny charged back, winning eight consecutive games to level at one set apiece and lead 2-0 in the decisive set. Tipsarevic saved four match points in the ninth game before Youzhny served for the match and sealed the win with a forehand crosscourt shot.
It was Youzny’s first final in 11 appearances at the event. He is now 5-11 in ATP finals.
Schiavone is 2-10 in WTA Tour finals. She also won the 2007 Gastein Ladies.
The eighth-seeded Italian, the 2005 runner-up, broke decisively in the eighth game of the first set after Govortsova had saved five break points in the sixth game.
Schiavone said that a break on the ninth deuce in the sixth game for a 4-2 lead was the key moment of the match.
"The game was very long but I did very good," Schiavone said. "Everything changed at that moment. When I found the way, it was much easier, and she (Govortsova) didn’t know how to finish points, I think."
Govortsova broke back immediately, but Schiavone then won eight games in the row.
"It’s difficult to play with Francesca on this (hard-court) surface," Govortsova said. "She practically made no mistakes. She made me run a lot in the first set and it had an impact on me later in the match."
The 24th-ranked Schiavone was playing in her second final in as many weeks, having lost to Samantha Stosur of Australia at Osaka, Japan.
The 67th-ranked Govortsova was playing in her second career final.
The 20th edition of the Kremlin Cup had a weakened women’s draw because seven of the world’s top players had qualified for the Doha Championships before the Moscow tournament and opted to skip it.
The seventh-ranked Vera Zvonareva of Russia, defending champion Jelena Jankovic and Agnieszka Radwanska, ranked 10th, were eliminated in the early rounds.
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