Daniela Hantuchova outfoxes Maria Kirilenko in the title-round – PTT Pattaya Open 2012
Defending champion, Daniela Hantuchova, successfully defended her title after outclassing the Russian star, Maria Kirilenko, at the PTT Pattaya Open 2012 on Sunday. She registered a 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3 victory over the 25-year-old to claim her fifth career
title at this WTA International event taking place on the hard courts in Pattaya City, Thailand.
The Slovakian veteran flashed her old self at the Dusit Thani Hotel and succeeded in her first fruitful title defence. She debuted in this event last year and cruised to final without losing a set as the third seed this season. The world number 25, Kirilenko
on the other side played her best tennis to set-up this clash.
Both tennis aces were meeting each other for the seventh time. After earning this success, Hantuchova not only avenged her loss at the Zurich Open in 2008 but also extended her lead in the head-to-head series by 5-2 against the Russian.
"I'm happy to defend my title - it was the first time I defended a title in my career, but it's better late than never!" the blooming Slovak stated after the match. "Maria and I both wanted to win the title today. She played so well and put a lot of pressure
on me. Even after I lost the first set I kept fighting and never looked back, and I think I was also luckier tonight. Maria is a great player and a great person too. I always play well under good conditions and surroundings."
The Russian stormed into the Thai courts and drew the first blood in the opening game of the match. Regardless of losing her edge in the tenth game, she prolonged the set to a tie-breaker and prevailed in it. Kirilenko blocked six out of seven breakpoints
she came across and cashed in the only break chance to clinch the opener with a 7-6(4) score line.
The frustrated Slovak made a fitting reply in the following set and earned the desiderated break in the opening game. She then maintained her intensity and after capitalising on another break opportunity in the last game, Hantuchova bagged the equaliser
by winning six games to three.
The match was standing on a knife edge but the Slovak lost her track and gifted away her serve in the opening game. However, she quickly recovered in the very next game and then held her composure to keep remaining serves. Hantuchova then got the breakthrough
in the eighth game and sealed the decider with a 6-3 win.
A former world number five, Hantuchova grabbed her previous titles at the Indian Wells in 2002 and 2007, Linz in 2007 and here at the Pattaya Open last year.