Thai veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn completed her dramatic run from qualifying to capture her second career title at the WTA grasscourt tournament here on Saturday. The 31-year-old beat Russian second seed, and French Open runner-up, Dinara Safina 7-5, 6-3 to clinch a timely boost ahead of Wimbledon which starts on Monday.
Safina earned the first break of the match in the ninth game for a chance to serve the first set out at 5-4, but the Thai broke right back and won 10 of the last 12 points of the set. The second set remained largely on serve, but Tamarine earned the critical break in the seventh game before going on to wrap up the match.
"Maybe it was more difficult for Dinara, as she was seeded and playing really well lately, and I was coming out of the qualies; that could have put some pressure on her today," said Tamarine whose previous title came in Hyderabad in 2003.
"After she had the chance to serve out the first set I think her level fell a bit, and once I got to the second set I felt great, and that I could really win this match." Tamarine had arguably the best week of career, earning wins over both Bondarenko sisters (Birmingham champion Kateryna in the first round and No 8 seed Alona in the semi-finals), Ashley Harkleroad, Michaella Krajicek and Safina.
She was almost out against Harkleroad in the second round, rallying from 5-3 down in the third set to win 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. Tamarine now heads for Wimbledon where she has on six occasions reached the fourth round. She tackles the Czech Republic's Petra Cetkovska in the first round. Safina said she wanted to put this defeat out of her mind as quickly as possible.
"I have to forget this match because I played some pretty good matches earlier this week and today was just not my day," said Safina. "I want to give lots of credit to Tamarine, I think she played a solid match - but I want to forget this match as soon as I can. I'm leaving for London today, I'll have today and tomorrow off and then Wimbledon starts. So I will have to get ready for that."