MASON, Ohio (AP) _ Second-seeded Nadia Petrova dominated unseeded Nathalie Dechy, 6-2, 6-1, to win the Western and Southern Financial Groups Women's Open today.

Petrova, who reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon this year, clinched the win with a forehand return on her second match point to earn her first championship since the 2007 Tier II Paris indoor tournament. It was her first outdoor title since the Tier I Berlin Open on clay in 2006.

"It's been awhile," said the 26-year-old Petrova. "I've been in some finals, but it felt really good to win my eighth title. Things seem to be going in the right direction."

Petrova, the third consecutive Russian to win the Tier III tournament, earned $28,000. France's Dechy, making her first finals appearance since the 2004 New Haven event, earned $15,000.

"It wasn't my best match of the week, but you have to give credit to Nadia," said the 29-year-old Dechy, who was ranked 92nd on the WTA Tour going into the tournament. "She served really well. She kept it deep, and I was always under pressure. My serve wasn't that good, and she has one of the best on the tour, so there was a huge gap."

The players traded service breaks through the first three games before the 21st-ranked Petrova held for 3-1 lead. Playing more aggressively, the Russian had 17 winners to Dechy's four while committing nine unforced errors to five for Dechy in the first set. Petrova finished with 28 winners to Dechy's five.

"She was very aggressive," Dechy said. "I knew I had to do something. I just couldn't."

The second set was tied 1-1 when Dechy double-faulted on game point, and Petrova went on to win the last five games of the match.

"To be honest, I expected a much more difficult match," said Petrova, who has beaten Dechy three consecutive times and improved to 6-2 in the series. "I felt like I was so well-prepared, and I was ready to stay on the court for a long time."