The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Memorable day for Myskina

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Sunday, Jun 06, 2004

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Sport - Tennis

Memorable day for Myskina

PARIS, JUNE 5. Anastasia Myskina became the first Russian woman to claim a Grand Slam title, taking advantage of shaky play by compatriot Elena Dementieva to win 6-1, 6-2 on Saturday at the French Open.

With unspectacular but steady tennis, the No. 6-seeded Myskina capitalised on Dementieva's erratic performance, including 10 double-faults, to win in 59 minutes.

The match was the first all-Russian Grand Slam final and marked the first time in 30 years Russia had even one woman in the final of a major.

The No. 9-seeded Dementieva has long been plagued by an unreliable serve, especially in big matches, and that was the case again in her first major final. She lost her first four service games, and missed her final four serves — for two more double-faults — to give Myskina a 5-2 lead in the second set.

Myskina herself double-faulted to lose the opening game, then settled down and won the next eight games. She closed the victory when Dementieva sent a return long, and the two foes and friends since childhood embraced at the net.

``It's a Grand Slam. It's a French Open against my friend,'' Myskina said. ``It's too much going on for me right now.''

As a brass band played the Russian national anthem during the post-match ceremony, tears welled in Myskina's eyes.

Dementieva's best moment came during the trophy presentation when she spoke in fluent French to the delight of the crowd. ``It was the dream of my life to win Roland Garros, and it's a shame that I lost today,'' she said. ``I hope to come back and win next year.''

Dementieva and Myskina were the first Russians to reach a women's Grand Slam final since Dementieva's coach, Olga Morozova, was the runner-up at Wimbledon in 1974.

With women's tennis on the rise in Russia in recent years, Myskina has been among the nation's most-talented young players. Still, the 22-year-old Moscow native wasn't among the favourites in this year's French Open.

The weather for the final was perfect — sunny and 75 degrees — but the tennis less so, especially from Dementieva. The match was as lopsided and error-filled as the two sloppy semifinals, with 50 errors by the two finalists and just 23 winners.

By the end of the first set, Dementieva had 19 unforced errors, including five double-faults. Her best shot may have been a mis-hit lob that landed on the net cord and dropped at the feet of a surprised Myskina, who dumped her reply into the net.

In the second set, Dementieva held for the first time to trail 2-1, then held again to close to 3-2, but she couldn't keep it up.

Serving at 2-4, she double-faulted on the first point and angrily shouted at herself in Russian. The outburst didn't help, and she finished with 33 unforced errors and just 11 winners.

Myskina earned 838,500 ($1.02 million) and Dementieva 419,250 ($510,000).

French teenagers win

mixed doubles

Teenagers Tatiana Golovin and Richard Gasquet of France won the French Open mixed doubles title yesterday, beating fourth-seeded Wayne and Cara Black of Zimbabwe 6-3 6-4.

``It's a great time for both of us. It gave us a chance to play an important match on centre court in front of a big crowd. It can only be good for the future,'' said the 17-year-old Gasquet. — Agencies

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