STUTTGART, Germany, (Reuters) – Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova snapped a two year title drought when she stunned world number one Dinara Safina 6-4 6-3 to win the Stuttgart Grand Prix yesterday.Kuznetsova, the world number nine, was more consistent than fellow Russian Safina, holding her serve throughout to clinch her first tournament of the year after 79 minutes.
The former U.S. Open champion had struggled with three-set victories in earlier rounds but picked up her game when it really mattered, ousting world number three Elena Dementieva in the last four, and then Safina. Safina, who topped the rankings for the first time last month, lost her third final this year after falling at the last hurdle in Sydney and the Australian Open. “It is a great to be here and win,” said Kuznetsova, who last triumphed at New Haven in 2007. “It has been a while.”
