The Czech republic's Nicole Vaidisova clinched her third consecutive title in three weeks, beating top seed Nadia Petrova 6-1, 6-7 (7/5), 7-5 in the PTT Thailand Open final here on Sunday. The 200,000-dollar tournament was Vaidisova's fifth singles title and brings her winning streak to 15 matches.
Vaidisova is the first player since American Lindsay Davenport in July 2004 to win three consecutive singles titles in three weeks.
Second seed Vaidisova, 16, said she was satisfied with her first set, but lost her rhythm in the second set before finding her form and clinching the title.
"I was very, very happy because it is my third title in a row," she told reporters.
In the first set, she held her service game easily at the start and broke the Russian's two service games to lead 5-1, but missed three set points before taking the first set 6-1 in 22 minutes.
But Petrova, 23, powered back in the second set, taking it to a tie break which she won 7-6 (7/5).
In the third set, Vaidisova's powerful shots brought her victory on the first match point, wrapping up the match in one hour, 54 minutes.
Vaidisova's other titles were in Seoul and Tokyo in the past two weeks.
The Bangkok victory means Vaidisova will on Monday increase her world ranking by one place to 17. She said she would not let the promotion put any pressure on her future tournaments.
"I will try to do as best as I can. I will not pressure myself," Vaidisova said.
It was Petrova's second loss in a final in 2005. The Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne defeated her in Berlin in May. Petrova is the only player in the top 20 without a singles title.
Right-handed Petrova said she could not serve as well as she wanted.
"I tried to play the best I can and get a good result, but luck was not on my side," she said.
SINGLES (final): Nicole Vaidisova (CZE x2) bt Nadia Petrova (RUS x1) 6-1, 6-7 (7/5), 7-5.
DOUBLES (final): Shinobu Asagoe/Gisela Dulko (JPN/ARG x2) bt Conchita Martinez/Virginia Ruano-Pascual (ESP x1) 6-1, 7-5.
DOUBLES (semi-final): Conchita Martinez/Virginia Ruano-Pascual (ESP x1) bt Antonella Serra Zanetti/Wynne Prakusya (ITA/INA) 6-0, 7-6 (7/5).