Myskina, Davydenko lead Kremlin Cup sweep
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-10-18 10:08

Anastasia Myskina and Nikolay Davydenko won singles championships at the Kremlin Cup on Sunday, then teamed with compatriots to capture the women's and men's doubles finals for a Russian sweep of all four titles.

Myskina won this event for the second straight year, running off 10 straight games to defeat Elena Dementieva 7-5, 6-0 in the tournament's first all-Russian final. Nikolay Davydenko saved three match points in rallying past Britain's Greg Rusedski 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 for his second title this year.

Russia's Anastasia Myskina returns a backhand against compatriot Elena Dementieva during their Kremlin Cup final tennis match in Moscow October 17, 2004. [Reuters]

"I had a dream to win the Kremlin Cup, and my dream has come true," he said.

Myskina and Vera Zvonareva defeated top-seeded Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain and Paola Suarez of Argentina 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 in doubles, . It was Myskina's second career doubles title. Among the men, Davydenko and Igor Andreev downed top-seeded Mahesh Bhupathi of India and Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The women's singles final was a rematch of French Open final in which Myskina won in straight sets. Dementieva also lost the Moscow final in 2001.

"I was seriously motivated to win today to prove my home fans that I deserved my high rankings," said Myskina, who will advance one place to No. 3 this week.

Both players struggled with their serves in a first set marked by nine breaks. Myskina trailed 5-3 in the first set but did not lose the rest of the match.

Russia's Anastasia Myskina lifts the trophy after beating compatriot Elena Dementieva in the Kremlin Cup women's final tennis match in Moscow October 17, 2004. Myskina won the match 7-5 6-0.[Reuters]

"It was very hard to hold my nerves in the beginning," Myskina said. "But later, I was able to calm down and played my average tennis."

Dementieva was up 5-4 and down love-40 on her serve in the 10th game of the first set. She saved two break points, but played passively on the next point and Myskina converted with a backhand down the line to make it 5-5 before serving for the lead. Myskina surged through the second set, winning two games at love.

"It was important today to win the first set because all was to be decided in it," Dementieva said. "In the second set, she found her game and I couldn't resist."

Dementieva, seeded fifth, upset U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarterfinals. In the final, however, she made four-double faults, 39 unforced errors and just nine winners. She won only 20 of 44 first serves and four of 20 on second serves.

Myskina, seeded third, beat second-seeded Lindsay Davenport in the semis. Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo had withdrawn because of a thigh strain.

In the men's final, a critical moment came in the 10th game of the third set. Davydenko, leading 5-4 and down 40-30 on serve, saved three match points. The eighth-seeded Russian clinched the victory with a cross-court forehand.

"It's obviously disappointing when you lose a match having three match points," Rusedski said. "He took advantage of the situation and I just have to give him credit."

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