Week #17: Kuznetsova wins in Stuttgart

Svetlana Kuznetsova captured in Stuttgart her first WTA title since 2007 after overcoming Dinara Safina in an all-Russian final. Despite dropping sets in her first two matches, Kuznetsova raised her level and found her best tennis back at the decissive rounds. The domination of Russian players was almost total with 3 of the 4 semifinalist, including Kuznetsova, Safina and Elena Dementieva, with Italian Flavia Pennetta, who upsetted Jelena Jankovic in the semis, as the only non-Russian player in the semis.

In Fes, Spanish Anabel Medina confirmed that she is one of the best players on clay, especially in this kind of small tournaments, and captured the 9th WTA title in her career. After suffering to defeat Klara Zakopalova in the 2nd round and Lourdes Dominguez in the quarters, the decissive matches were easy for Medina, as Hungarian Melinda Czink had to retire in the semis due to gastrointestinal illness and in the final Ekaterina Makarova put little opposition and was sweeped by 6/0 6/1 by Medina. Young Russian Alisa Kleybanova completed the semis.

Stuttgart (GER), Premier, $700,000
Final: Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) def Dinara Safina (RUS) 6/4 6/3

Fes (MAR), International, $220,000
Final: Anabel Medina (ESP) def Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 6/0 6/1