Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova powered to her first grand slam title when she beat compatriot Elena Dementieva 6-3 7-5 to win the U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows last night.
The 19-year-old ninth seed belted 35 winners to become the third Russian woman to win a grand slam in 2004.
Sixth seed Dementieva, who lost to another Russian Anastasia Myskina in the French Open final earlier in the year, went into the match as the favourite and began strongly as she won the first four points to break Kuznetsova to love.
But Kuznetsova soon found her range, taking advantage of Dementieva's weak serve to break back in the following game and then again in the sixth game on the way to taking the opening set.
Dementieva showed her resilience to twice lead by a break in the second set but Kuznetsova rallied from 4-2 down and broke in the 11th game when her opponent double faulted for the fourth time.
Kuznetsova then clinched victory with a service winner.