.Russia’s Elena Dementieva has won the Paris Indoors WTA tournament for the first time in her ninth attempt, defeating Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-4 in the final.
The top seed dropped a tightly-contested first set when Safarova, 23, powered a forehand past her to take the tie-break 7-5, but she was in total command in the second as her heavy ground strokes kept Safarova pinned back.
She had been the losing finalist here last year, going down to the now retired Amelie Mauresmo of France
“I have been trying to win this tournament for so many years – it’s been one of the most difficult wins of my career and I am so happy,” she said.
The 28-year-old Russian, who won the Olympic title in Beijing in 2008, grabbed an early break in the third set and held on to win her second WTA title of the year after Sydney. .
“You have to fight to the very end and if you fight for every point anything can happen.
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Dementieva, who has yet to win a grand slam title, was one of the favourites at the Australian Open in January but she was drawn against wildcard Justine Henin in the second round and lost in straight sets to the Belgian
.World number seven Elena Dementieva will play the Czech Republic’s Lucie Safarova in the final of the Paris Indoor Open after they both came through challenging semis.
Top seed Dementieva survived a scare against US teen sensation Melanie Oudin, dropping the first set before going through 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Earlier in the day, world number 46 Safarova produced an upset when she knocked out world number 12 and second seed Flavia Pennetta 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to set up a final date with the 28-year-old Russian.
“Flavia is ranked 12th in the world, she’s a very good player and still, I was able to stay focused throughout the match.
Safarova explained after the match how she defeated a player who is 34 places above her in the WTA world rankings.
In the other semi-final, Russia’s Dementieva banished the bad memories of last year’s US Open when she lost to the unseeded Oudin. I had to take risks but I did so at the right moments and it paid off,” she said.
The Georgia native again showed all the guts and determination from that fairytale run by taking the first set 4-6.
Oudin struggled with Dementieva’s return of serve in the third and final set and the tournament’s top seed finally sealed the match by winning it 6-3.
But the world number seven recovered to win the second set 6-3, breaking the teenager’s serve three times.
“She’s a great fighter and this was probably the most difficult win of the year for me.
“I’m really happy to get through such a difficult match against Melanie and be in the final,” the 28-year-old Russian said afterwards. .”
Dementieva has met Safarova, a finalist here in 2007, just once previously in her career.
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