DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Eighth-seeded Elena Dementieva won the Dubai Championships on Saturday, beating second-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in an all-Russian final.
Dementieva lost the 2004 U.S. Open final to Kuznetsova.
"I am just so happy. Every time I win, I think it is my first win," said the 11th-ranked Dementieva, who received US$250,000.
It was Dementieva’s ninth career win, and the first this season.
Kuznetsova targeted Dementieva’s backhand in the first set, although both players struggled with their serves with seven breaks in the opening 10 games.
Dementieva changed tactics in the second set.
"I realized I was becoming very defensive and not making her move much. And once I started doing that, I felt much better about my game," Dementieva said.
Dementieva broke Kuznetsova to go 2-1 ahead, and then broke again in the fifth game to take a 4-1 lead.
Kuznetsova struggled in the deciding set and held her serve only five times in the entire match.
"It is very disappointing, but I don’t think I have a problem playing in finals," said Kuznetsova, who also lost in the Sydney International final against Justine Henin in January. "I think Elena played very well and as her level went up, mine went down."