Third seed Mary Pierce of France won the 2.3-million dollar Kremlin Cup for the second time on Sunday with a comprehensive 6-4, 6-3 win over Italy's Francesca Schiavone. In so doing, Pierce, winner here in 1998, clinched the 18th title of her career and second of the year.
The 30-year-old two-time Grand Slam winner broke the Italian twice in the opening set to gain a commanding 5-1 lead.
Unheralded Schiavone, who was playing her fourth career final, reduced the arrears with a break in the eighth game but Pierce managed to keep her advantage through to take the first set 1-0 up in 47 minutes.
In the second Pierce broke early but Schiavone, 25, replied immediately to level at two games all.
Pierce, who is currently seventh in the WTA rankings, made two more breaks to win the set and the match in one hour 27 minutes on the first matchpoint.
The Canadian-born French player pocketed 189,000 dollars and a silver trophy, while runner-up Schiavone received 102,000 dollars.
"I'm really happy to be here and win. I have special memories about this place," Pierce said.
"I won singles and doubles titles here in my first appearance. I've also played several Fed Cup matches here winning and losing the finals."
"Moscow always have special place in my heart."
Pierce took the Moscow trophy after an incredible quarter-final tie when she hit back from 0-6 down in the third set tie break against Russia's Elena Likhovtseva of Russia to win 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (8/6).