Russian Nadia Petrova won her fifth
title of the year at the Porsche Grand Prix, beating 18-year-old
Tatiana Golovin of France 6-3, 7-6 (4) Sunday.
The seventh-ranked Petrova rode her powerful serve to beat the
French teenager, who knocked her out of the U.S. Open in the third
round.
The Russian, unbeaten in finals this year, picked up her sixth
career title and first since May, when she won the German Open.
``I'm very happy,'' Petrova said. ``It was a hard fight. At the
end I was very nervous.''
Petrova hurt her ankle during a fall at 4-4 in the second-set
tiebreak and was treated courtside. She returned to rattle off three
straight points, closing the match out when Golovin's passing shot
sailed long.
The 25th-ranked Frenchwoman, who had been 3-0 against Petrova,
was denied her first tour title. She had played several
three-setters at the event, including a semifinal win over
ninth-ranked Patty Schnyder.
``My problem wasn't being tired from playing too much _ my
problem was Nadia,'' Golovin said.
Petrova appeared to have complete control at 4-2 in the second
set, when Golovin used some pinpoint shots down the line to break
her serve for just the second time.
That led to several see-saw games with break chances on both
sides. Petrova didn't regain control until she took the court again
after her ankle was treated.
``That was my best tennis this year,'' Petrova said.
The match was a battle of two players from sports families.
Golovin is the daughter of a hockey coach who moved the family
from Moscow to Paris when she was eight months old. Petrova's father
was a hammer thrower and her mother an Olympic relay sprinter.
Petrova reached No. 3 in the rankings in May, but has been set
back by injuries since.
The event often brings together the world's top 20 players, but
this year was hurt by withdrawals and injuries.
