Dementieva Wins 2008 Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships

Dubai, UAE, March 1st, 2008: In yet another three-set thriller, Dubai debutant Elena Dementieva overcame fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 4-6 6-3 6-2 to win the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships on Saturday.

The first two sets were evenly balanced as both sought an advantage, with Dementieva’s big forehand causing damage and Kuznetsova challenging with some occasional charges to the net.

Kuznetsova took a 2-0 lead but then lost the next three games. Then she won the next three to lead 5-3. Dementieva then broke as Kuznetsova served for the set, only to drop her own serve for the fourth time in the next game. Ten games, seven breaks.

The second set was just as close. Kuznetsova had a chance to place her opponent under further pressure when she held a break point to lead 2-0, but she made an error on her return to let Dementieva off the hook. Then the number eight seed broke twice to go up 4-1. Second seeded Kuznetsova recovered one break in the sixth game, but Dementieva broke again for the set.

Dementieva kept her momentum going in the final set, hitting a fierce winner at the net to break for 2-0. Although Kuznetsova broke back to reduce Dementieva’s lead to 3-2, Dementieva finished strongly by winning the final three games.

“I just feel so happy,” said Dementieva. “First time here and such a big win, especially in the final against Svetlana. I think it was a great match and I was playing really, really good, probably the best match for a long time for me.

“I think the whole week I had such a tough draw. all the top players were here and every match was difficult, and every win gives you a lot of confidence. I’m just happy that I played my best tennis in the final. Even if I was a little bit tired from playing such long matches before I was very confident and that really helped me today.

“I think in the first set I was playing wrong tactically. I was playing too short, playing too much and staying too much on the backhand crosscourt. I didn’t move Svetlana at all. Then I realised I have to play the whole court, I have to move her, I have to be aggressive and go more for the forehand winners.”

Kuznetsova was disappointed at her performance after she lost her second final in Dubai. She also lost the 2004 final to Justine Henin.

“I am very disappointed because I think I got all the chances and all the possibilities today but I just didn’t make it. I was playing within myself and my level was going lower and lower.

“At the start I was keeping it together and then I started missing. I didn’t watch the ball properly. I don’t know with the night match if it was my vision or something, but my level got lower and she just played consistent. She was doing the things she always does and I was missing it.

“I was not tired physically. I was very frustrated because I was not making anything. I was rushing too much. I was trying to finish the point quicker, and with her it doesn’t work. If I work the point I win it, and I didn’t work it and I didn’t serve first serves in, and it’s really tough winning a match playing like that.”

It was Dementieva’s first time in Dubai, and you can be sure it won’t be her last.

“I always wanted to come here because I heard from other players it’s a great place and all of the payers really like it here, but I was usually playing Paris and Antwerp. This time I really decided to come and I have no regrets about it!”