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Russian women on a high as first home player wins Kremlin Cup
Moscow, Oct 06: Anastasia Myskina beats Amelie Mauresmo to win Kremlin title. Anastasia Myskina became the first Russian woman to win the Kremlin Cup on Sunday when she dismantled second-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France 6-2 6-4.
Moscow, Oct 06: Anastasia Myskina beats Amelie Mauresmo to win Kremlin title. Anastasia Myskina became the first Russian woman to win the Kremlin Cup on Sunday when she dismantled second-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France 6-2 6-4.
It was Myskina's second consecutive tournament victory after last week's win at the Leipzig Grand Prix, where she beat French and U.S. Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne in the final.
No Russian woman had won the annual WTA event in Moscow since it began as a $100,000 Virginia Slims tournament in 1989. In what looked like a one-sided contest, the 22-year-old Muscovite -- seeded fourth here -- secured a memorable victory on her second match-point when Mauresmo's forehand landed wide. "I just made too many mistakes," said the 24-year-old Frenchwoman, who committed 37 unforced effors and conceded five double faults in a 70-minute match. "I don't think Anastasia played that great today, it was me who should have played much better," she added.
"I tried to play aggressive as I had been doing the whole week, but today I was making mistakes and you can't expect to win a match with so many errors."
After taking the opening set in 32 minutes, Myskina, who only conceded nine games in her three previous matches here, raced to a 5-2 lead in the second.
The Russian failed to convert her first match point in the ninth game and Mauresmo broke back to trail 5-4 but she was only delaying the inevitable.
Despite losing the final, Mauresmo moved up to number six in the world, knocking American Venus Williams down to seventh place. Myskina, who ran to the VIP box to receive a big hug from former Russian President Boris Yeltsin after clinching her fifth career title, also moved up one spot in the WTA rankings, from 10th to ninth, ahead of another American Chanda Rubin.
"I agree with Amelie that I didn't play a super match today, but I was aggressive and dictated the points," said Myskina, who collected a $189,000 first prize. "I think she didn't expect me to play very fast and run all over the court, chasing her shots. I think that was the key today."
With 16-year-old Maria Sharapova claiming her maiden title at the Japan Open in Tokyo earlier in the day, Myskina's victory also prolonged a winning streak by Russian women, who had won all five tournaments on the WTA calendar since the U.S. Open in early August.
Elena Dementieva, who lost to Mauresmo in the semi-finals here, had won two titles in Bali and Shanghai last month.
Bureau Report
It was Myskina's second consecutive tournament victory after last week's win at the Leipzig Grand Prix, where she beat French and U.S. Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne in the final.
No Russian woman had won the annual WTA event in Moscow since it began as a $100,000 Virginia Slims tournament in 1989. In what looked like a one-sided contest, the 22-year-old Muscovite -- seeded fourth here -- secured a memorable victory on her second match-point when Mauresmo's forehand landed wide. "I just made too many mistakes," said the 24-year-old Frenchwoman, who committed 37 unforced effors and conceded five double faults in a 70-minute match. "I don't think Anastasia played that great today, it was me who should have played much better," she added.
"I tried to play aggressive as I had been doing the whole week, but today I was making mistakes and you can't expect to win a match with so many errors."
After taking the opening set in 32 minutes, Myskina, who only conceded nine games in her three previous matches here, raced to a 5-2 lead in the second.
The Russian failed to convert her first match point in the ninth game and Mauresmo broke back to trail 5-4 but she was only delaying the inevitable.
Despite losing the final, Mauresmo moved up to number six in the world, knocking American Venus Williams down to seventh place. Myskina, who ran to the VIP box to receive a big hug from former Russian President Boris Yeltsin after clinching her fifth career title, also moved up one spot in the WTA rankings, from 10th to ninth, ahead of another American Chanda Rubin.
"I agree with Amelie that I didn't play a super match today, but I was aggressive and dictated the points," said Myskina, who collected a $189,000 first prize. "I think she didn't expect me to play very fast and run all over the court, chasing her shots. I think that was the key today."
With 16-year-old Maria Sharapova claiming her maiden title at the Japan Open in Tokyo earlier in the day, Myskina's victory also prolonged a winning streak by Russian women, who had won all five tournaments on the WTA calendar since the U.S. Open in early August.
Elena Dementieva, who lost to Mauresmo in the semi-finals here, had won two titles in Bali and Shanghai last month.
Bureau Report