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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 11:27 a.m., Sunday, March 23, 2008

Tennis: Ivanovic downs Kuznetsova for Indian Wells title

By KEN PETERS
AP Sports Writer

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Ana Ivanovic peppered the lines with accurate groundstrokes to win the Pacific Life Open women's title, taking a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova today.

The 20-year-old Serb capped her victory with a shot that seemed to typify her play in the final: she whipped a forehand winner down the line on a service return.

Ivanovic, ranked No. 2, was the top seed since Justine Henin wasn't in the tournament. Kuznetsova came into Indian Wells ranked No. 3.

Ivanovic served five aces and Kuznetsova had none, and Ivanovic hit 29 winners to 14.

The two traded service breaks early in the second set, then Ivanovic broke through again to take a 4-3 lead. She held her serve, then broke her Russian opponent's serve again to end the match and win her sixth tour title and first of the season.

She celebrated with a beaming grin and a little hop as she headed forward to shake hands with Kuznetsova.

After both players held serve through the opening eight games of the match, Ivanovic broke through to take a 5-4 lead. She then finished the set quickly, serving out without losing a point.

The win was Ivanovic's sixth in nine career finals, and her fifth victory over Kuznetsova in their six meetings.

The 22-year-old Kuznetsova lost for the eighth time in her last nine finals appearances. Her only victory during that stretch came when Agnes Szavay won the first set of their title match at New Haven last August, but had to quit in the second because of an injury. Kuznetsova has a career mark of 9-15 in tour title matches.