Petrova beats Golovin to secure Stuttgart title

STUTTGART, Oct 8 (Reuters) Russian Nadia Petrova ended the run of unseeded French teenager Tatiana Golovin to claim the Stuttgart Grand Prix title with a 6-3 7-6 win today.

The fourth seed, who had lost all three previous meetings with Golovin, claimed her fifth title of the year after winning in Doha, Amelia Island, Charleston and Berlin.

Golovin earned the first break, taking a 3-2 lead when a double-handed backhand from Petrova fell marginally long and was called by the umpire.

The Frenchwoman failed to build on her advantage, however, when a netted forehand allowed Petrova to level at 3-3, and the Russian broke again to lead 5-3 when Golovin made a backhand error.

Petrova missed several first serves as the match progressed, and her second serve was often weak and duly punished by Golovin.

But it was Petrova who broke to lead 2-1 in the second set when a deep ball forced Golovin to net a double-handed backhand.

But Petrova struggled to maintain her lead, fighting off a break point in the next game and then failing to win a break point for 4-1 when Golovin struck a fine crosscourt forehand winner.

Golovin's persistence finally paid off when she levelled at 4-4, but the biggest drama of the match came in the last few points.

At 4-4 in the tiebreak, Petrova fell and injured her right ankle while trying to change direction. After play was held up for several minutes while the ankle was taped the Russian broke Golovin on the next point, and then won a lengthy rally to go up 6-4.

A disappointed Golovin hurled her racquet to the ground and Petrova claimed victory on the next point when a ball from Golovin landed long.

REUTERS AB PM1924