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Davydenko and Myskina grab titles at Kremlin Cup

MOSCOW: Nikolai Davydenko and French Open champion Anastasia Myskina made it a double Russian celebration here on Sunday when they stormed to victory at the $2.3 million Kremlin Cup.

Eighth-seeded Davydenko saved three match points on his way to beating Greg Rusedski 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 in 1hr 48 min to record his second win over the 31-year-old Briton in as many meetings. Earlier, Myskina successfully defended the women’s title beating compatriot Elena Dementieva 7-5, 6-0.

Rusedski, who has been using British TV hypnotist Paul McKenna to help his preparation for tournaments, opened up a comfortable 4-1 lead in the first set with a break in the fourth game to take the opening set in 27 minutes. In the second, the 23-year-old Davydenko, spurred by the home crowd, hit back to break Rusedski’s serve in the second game to eventually pull level, winning the second set also in 27 minutes.

In the deciding set the rivals traded breaks early, keeping than their serves until the 11th game, when Davydenko broke again to win the set and the match after surviving three match points in the 10th game. Davydenko earned $142,000 and a silver trophy, while Rusedski pocketed a $83,600 cheque. “I had a dream to win the Kremlin Cup and my dream come true,” Davydenko said. Rusedski said he was disappointed with the outcome.

“My aim was to win tournament and it’s obviously disappointing when you lose the match having three matchpoints,” he said. “I guess it was supposed to be his week.” Earlier, reigning champion Myskina defended her title beating fifth-seeded Dementieva in the first all-Russian final here.

Myskina, the third seed, won 7-5, 6-0, in a replay of this year’s French Open final to clinch her third title of the year and sixth win over Dementieva in their 10th head-to-head meeting. Myskina, currently fourth in the world, took the opening set in 45 minutes.

In the second set, Dementieva, who was also runner-up at the US Open this year, fell apart allowing her opponent to take six games in a row to win the set and the match in 1hr 9min to grab 14th title of the season for Russia. Myskina received a silver trophy and a cheque for $189,000, while Dementieva pocketed a prize purse of $102,000.

“It was very hard to hold my nerve in the beginning. But later I managed to calm down,” said Myskina. “It’s great to win at home. I was motivated to win to prove to my home fans that I deserve my high ranking.” Dementieva admitted she failed to press her compatriot. “It was very important today to win the first set,” she said. “I should have put pressure on her but I failed to do that and in the second set, I couldn’t resist.” afp

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