Top seed Chakvetadze wins Paris Open

11 Feb, 2008

Top seed Anna Chakvetadze of Russia claimed her seventh WTA title on Sunday, beating Hungary's Agnes Szavay in three sets at the Paris Indoor Open. The 20-year-old from Moscow maintained her unbeaten record in finals as she won through 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 in 2hr 05min against seventh-seed Szavay.
"I had to fight for it, but I'm very happy with this win. I think I deserve it," Chakvetadze. Szavay, 19, could not have gotten off to a worse start with five double faults in her first two service games to find herself 0-4 down after 15 minutes.
Despite a sixth double fault Szavay finally held her serve and came back to 3-4 but her world number seven opponent held serve before breaking to love to take the first set in 37 minutes.
The situation was reversed in the second set with the 20th-ranked Hungarian responding to some motivating words from her coach to take a 4-0 advantage and keep herself in the tie as Chakvetadze lost just her second set in seven finals.
The Russian was treated for a left shoulder problem just before the third set and had to save two break points in the fifth game, before gaining the edge when she broke her 19-year-old opponent in the following game.
And the teenager could not match the power of Chakvetadze who nailed the title on her second match point to succeed compatriot Nadia Petrova and become the third Russian to hold the Paris title. Chakvetadze won four of her previous titles in 2007. Szavay won her two previous WTA titles in Palermo and Beijing last year.

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