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Rediff.com  » Sports » Youzhny and Schiavone triumph in Moscow

Youzhny and Schiavone triumph in Moscow

October 26, 2009 09:41 IST
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Third seed and home favourite Mikhail Youzhny beat Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic 6-7, 6-0, 6-4 in a see-saw Kremlin Cup final on Sunday to win his fifth ATP title.

Earlier, eighth-seeded Italian Francesca Schiavone eased to her second career crown with a 6-3 6-0 thrashing of Belarussian Olga Govortsova in the women's final.

Youzhny's triumph extended the Russian men's winning streak at the annual indoor tournament, which was celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, to six consecutive years.

After losing a tight first set in the tiebreak 7-5, Youzhny reeled off eight consecutive games to even the match and take a 2-0 lead in the decider.

Tipsarevic, playing in his first Tour final, saved four match points in the ninth game, but the world number 30 sealed his first Moscow crown and his first title since January 2008 at his next opportunity in the following game.

"Playing at home, in front of my family and friends, definitely put extra pressure on me but it made my victory taste even sweeter," the 27-year-old Muscovite told a news conference.

"Finally, after 11 attempts I was able to win in Moscow. I got a lucky draw this time but I had to work hard to earn it."

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Tipsarevic, who beat Youzhny in both their previous matches, was gracious in defeat.

"I didn't lose today, Misha beat me. He was the better player," said the 46th-ranked Serb, who also played a three-set doubles match late on Saturday.

"Definitely playing on Saturday night took its toll. I was physically down after the first set."

The women's final was a lop-sided affair as Govortsova was hampered by a painful rib injury.

"I had trouble with my serve because of the injury but in all honesty it wasn't the main reason I lost today," the 67th-ranked Belarussian told a news conference.

"She forced me to run a lot in the first set and I was very tired in the second."

Schiavone, who had lost 10 of her 11 previous finals including the Moscow showpiece against France's Mary Pierce in 2005, said she was tense on Sunday.

"Usually I feel nervous before matches but today was the final so I felt it even more," said the 29-year-old whose only other title came in Austria in 2007.

"The key for me was to stay ahead in the first set, at 3-2 then 4-3. That helped me settle down so the second was easy."

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Source: REUTERS
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