Ivanovic
Serbia's Ana Ivanovic claimed her maiden grand slam title when she
beat Russian 13th seed Dinara Safina 6-4, 6-3 in the French Open final
on Saturday.
The 20-year-old second seed became the first woman representing
Serbia to win a major title.
Last year's finalist Ivanovic, who will become world number one on
Monday, was too powerful for Marat Safin's younger sister, sealing a
straightforward victory after one hour 38 minutes.
"This was amazing. I still didn't believe it could happen," Ivanovic
said in a courtside interview.
French Open coverage
"I think we both played a nervous match, we both had lots of chances
and I am just happy I kept my composure at the end.
"Last year's final was a great learning experience for me, so I am
just so thrilled."
Safina, who was playing her first grand slam final, added: "It was a
great experience, I hope I can come back here next year."
With just-retired, four-times champion Justine Henin watching from
the stands, the Serbian pushed Safina far behind her baseline and the
Russian found herself trailing 4-1 in the opening set.
Safina, however, pulled a break back in the sixth game then held
serve to love under threatening skies.
In the eighth game, she rallied from 0-40, winning five points in a
row to level the contest but the 20-year-old Serbian went another break
up.
After saving a break point with a flat forehand, Ivanovic bagged the
set after 45 minutes on her second opportunity when Safina put a
backhand long.
Ivanovic won a 26-stroke rally in the third game of the second set,
taking the game on Safina's serve. She watched her opponent smash a
racket on the red dirt and held serve.
Safina, who came from match point down in her fourth-round and
quarter-final matches against compatriots Maria Sharapova and Elena
Dementieva, could not fight back this time, bowing out with a missed
forehand.
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