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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 5:42 a.m., Sunday, June 15, 2008

Tennis: Kirilenko wins Torneo Barcelona

Associated Press

BARCELONA, Spain — Second-seeded Maria Kirilenko of Russia won the Torneo Barcelona on Sunday with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Spanish wild card Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.

The title was Kirilenko's second of the year, following her win at Estoril, Portugal, in April.

Kirilenko, playing the sixth WTA Tour singles final of her career, dominated at the start to close out the first set in 39 minutes. Martinez Sanchez, a left-hander who was playing her first WTA final, was undone by Kirilenko's powerful baseline play and only produced resistance during Kirilenko's second service game.

Kirilenko, who will climb to 19th in the world rankings on Monday, allowed her opponent a little respite in the second set. Martinez Sanchez held her serve for the first time to get within 3-1, and then broke Kirilenko in the following game.

The Russian, however, immediately broke back and won the next two games to complete her victory.