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Zvonareva triumphs

PRAGUE: Russia’s Vera Zvonareva lived up to her top seeding by winning her first WTA title in nearly two years on Sunday.

The 23-year-old from Moscow emerged a 7-6(2), 6-2 winner over third seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus to lift her sixth title and first since Cincinnati in 2006.

“It’s a great relief for me,” said the 13th-ranked Russian who finished runner-up three times this year in Hobart, Doha and Charleston.

Zvonareva took advantage of the opponent whom she had beaten in their two previous meetings on hard courts in Indian Wells and Luxembourg last year.

Azarenka, ranked 26, had gotten off to a good start with an early break in the first set for 2-0, only for the 18-year-old to then drop serve.

She lost her focus and vainly complained several times about the quality of the clay surface at the Stvanice stadium, which she found too dry.

The Russian dominated the second with a break to love for 3-2 to see out victory after 1hr 33min, ending Azarenka’s dream of a first WTA title after three runners-up spots.

Nadal wins Barcelona

Rafael Nadal overcame David Ferrer 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 to lift a fourth straight Barcelona Open title on Sunday.

Seven days after defeating Roger Federer to win Monte Carlo for a record-equalling fourth straight year, the three-time Roland Garros champion followed up with a popular home triumph in the Catalan capital. Nadal improved his record at the Real club to 21-1, his lone loss coming in 2003.

The results: At Barcelona: ATP Sabadell Atlantico Barcelona Open: Final: Rafael Nadal bt David Ferrer 6-1, 4-6, 6-1. Semifinals: David Ferrer bt Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6(8), 6-3.

At Munich: ATP BMW Open: Semifinals: Simone Bolelli bt Paul-Henri Mathieu 7-6(1), 4-6, 7-6(4).

At Prague: WTA Prague Open: Final: Vera Zvonareva bt Victoria Azarenka 7-6(2), 6-2. — AFP

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