ROME(AP) Dinara Safina won her first title since taking over the No. 1 ranking, defeating fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3, 6-2 Saturday in the final of the Italian Open.
Safina closed out the 43-minute first set with a smash and won five straight games in the second as Kuznetsova committed a string of unforced errors. Safina converted her third match point, after saving two break points in the final game.
Safina avenged a loss to Kuznetsova in the final of the Porsche Grand Prix last weekend in Stuttgart, Germany.
Safina took over the top ranking on April 20, joining her older sibling Marat Safin the only brother-sister duo to have been No. 1. Kuznetsova will climb one spot to No. 7 in the rankings next week.