Kirilenko Claims China Open Crown
Maria Kirilenko lifted the first trophy of her young career on Sunday when she overcame German rival Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-3, 6-4 to capture the China Open title.
(PRWEB) September 27, 2005
Maria Kirilenko lifted the first trophy of her young career on Sunday when she overcame German rival Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-3, 6-4 to capture the China Open title.
The Russian, due for a healthy rise in the WTA rankings after coming through for victory in one hour and 47 minutes, was playing the inaugural Tier II WTA final of her career.
Kirilenko, 18, from Moscow, improved to 36-21 this season after the breakthrough.
Groenefeld, 20, proved to be a tough competitor, throwing down six aces to only one for the winner. Kirilenko also had a few nervous moments as she converted on only five of her 16 break points.
The Russian, ranked 45th in the world, missed a chance to serve out the match in the ninth game of the second set, dropping serve after saving three break points.
But she recovered in dramatic fashion to break world No.30 Groenefeld a game later and claim victory.
“I’m so happy to have won - I still can't believe it. This is an important breakthrough for me,” said Kirilenko.
“The first four games were very difficult, but after that I settled down. Then in the second set I played very well.
“When I served for the match, I tried to think of it as just another game, but I didn't serve well. Fortunately, I was able to get the break back straight away.”
The Russian called for a trainer before the final game and had her right wrist – her racquet hand – strapped, but said it was simply a precaution.
“It’s happened before. I felt a pain there when I was hitting a backhand, so I called the trainer and she strapped it up for me. After that I was able to relax and it was OK.”
Kirilenko began the week as an outsider but the tournament lost drawcards Lindsay Davenport, Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova to injury while Serena Williams was a surprise second-round loser to ChinaÂ’s Sun Tiantian.
“Other players had to drop out, so maybe I was a little bit lucky, but I was given a chance and I took it,” said Kirilenko.
Groenefeld tried to stay positive. “Naturally, I'm disappointed, but it's still been a great week for me,” said the German. “I've had a consistent year and my ranking has gone up. I served well in the first set tonight but she just played too well.”
Before the China Open, neither Kirilenko nor Groenefeld had advanced to a final at Tier II level. Groenefeld lost a title chance earlier this year at Pattaya City, Thailand, finishing runner-up to Spanish veteran Conchita Martinez.
Kirilenko was beaten in a minor final last year in Hyderabad, India, by Australian Nicole Pratt.
The Russian needed 53 minutes to win the opening set with a break for 4-3.
But Groenefeld clawed straight back with a break to start the second; Kirilenko levelled at 1-1 with another game against serve as her opponent saved two break points before losing her edge.
Kirilenko moved up a second break for a 3-1 margin as the finish line neared, at one point leading 5-2 before Groenefeld's resistance temporarily stiffened.
“It was a very hard-fought final with both women playing some fantastic shots,” said tournament director Ekkehard Rathgeber.
“Maria Kirilenko is a worthy winner of the second China Open and we offer her our sincere congratulations on her first WTA Tour title. Our commiserations go to Anna-Lena Groenefeld who, I am sure, will win a WTA event before long.”
Rathgeber, who is also Chief Operating Officer of tournament co-organiser TOM Group Limited, an associate of Hutchison Whampoa, added: “We hope to see both players back at the China Open next year.”
KirilenkoÂ’s success came a day after semi-final opponent and best friend Sharapova was unable to continue due to a recurrence of a pectoral muscle problem which has bothered her intermittently for almost a year.
About TOM Group
TOM Group Limited (HKSE stock code: 2383) is listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. A leading Chinese-language media group in the Greater China region, TOM Group has diverse business interests in five key areas: Internet (TOM Online); outdoor (TOM Outdoor Media Group); publishing; sports; and television and entertainment across markets in mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. In each of the areas it operates, TOM Group has secured market leadership. Headquartered in Hong Kong, the Group has regional headquarters in Beijing and Taipei, and 3,400 employees in over 20 cities.
Released by Two Up Front on behalf of TOM Group Limited, co-organiser of China Open 2005.
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