Smashnova beats Kournikova in Shanghai Open
Agencies, Shanghai, China
Anna Smashnova dashed Anna Kournikova's hopes of a first WTA title with a 6-2, 6-3 victory in Sunday's final of the Shanghai Open.
Kournikova ran faster and hit the ball harder than her opponent. But the 21-year-old Russian foundered on unforced errors, repeatedly hitting balls too long from the baseline and missing key net shots.
Smashnova, a 26-year-old Israeli who is ranked 19th in the world, remained precise and controlled. She pleased the crowd on several occasions with perfect winners hit in mid-stride as a hapless Kournikova looked on.
Smashnova seized the rhythm of the match early and never let go.
She broke Kournikova's serve in the first game, and then easily held her own serve.
It wasn't until the third game of the first set that Kournikova managed to score a point, when Smashnova made an uncharacteristic error and hit a shot wide.
Kournikova was after her first singles title in 115 WTA tournaments, since she turned pro in 1995. It was her first singles final since 2000. Last year she broke her foot.
This appeared Kournikova's best title chance yet. The Russian beat Smashnova in their last two match ups, most recently last month in the Acura Classic in California.
But Smashnova's superior experience seemed to pay off. This is her sixth WTA title since turning pro in 1991. Her most recent title was June's Wien Energie Grand Prix in Vienna, Austria.
At times, Kournikova overpowered her opponent, as when she hit her first ace in the first set, a 165 kph (103 mph) rocket that Smashnova only barely reached with her racket.
Smashnova remained unflustered even as Kournikova showered her with hard shots. The Israeli seemed to patiently wear Kournikova down, returning shot after shot until the Russian made an error. Kournikova's frustration began to show in the second set.
Several unforced errors, including a sure-thing drop shot that sailed into the net, allowed Smashnova to break serve in the first game.
By the second game, Kournikova disputed calls and was visibly angry.
But she quickly regained composure. After a final missed shot handed Smashnova the victory, Kournikova smiled and kissed her opponent on the cheeks.
In men's tennis, Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia, playing with an injured finger, won the President's Cup in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Saturday after defeating Belarusian Vladimir Voltchkov 7-6 (6), 7-5.
The third-seeded Kafelnikov, who traded breaks in the first set, made an early break in the second set to secure a 3-0 lead. But Voltchkov took the next three games to even the set.
Voltchkov, ranked 154th in the world, then saved two match points in the 12th game before Kafelnikov stepped up the pressure and closed out the match.
Kafelnikov injured a finger on his left hand during Friday's semifinal match against Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand. After the match, the right-handed Kafelnikov was not able to hold the racket with his left hand.
In Salvador, Brazil, former world number one Gustavo Kuerten reached his first ATP final for 13 months on Saturday after overcoming stubborn resistance to beat unseeded Paraguayan Ramon Delgado 6-4 6-7 6-3 at the Brazil Open.
Kuerten, whose last final was in Indianapolis in August last year, faces Guillermo Coria in Sunday's final after the unseeded Argentine beat Cecil Mamit of the United States 7-5 6-2.
Russia's third-seeded Anastasia Myskina won the second WTA tournament of her career when she beat number eight seed Eleni Daniilidou 6-3 0-6 6-2.
In Waikoloa, Hawaii, second-seeded Lisa Raymond of the United States advanced to the final of the Big Island Championships on Saturday, beating Belgium's Els Callens 6-2, 7-5.
Raymond, seeking her fourth WTA Tour title in her 10th career final, will face Zimbabwe's Cara Black in the title match at Hilton Waikoloa Village.