Petrova on top in Tokyo

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Published time: September 29, 2012 08:26
Edited time: September 29, 2012 12:27

Russia’s Nadia Petrova claimed her second tennis title of the year with her victory over defending champ Agnieszka Radwanska in the finals of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.

­Petrova started the match strong, and did not give up a single game to Radwanska in the opener.

Play changed drastically in the second set, with the world's number-three-ranking Radwanska thrashing her rival, taking the match into a deciding set.

The third set was the closest of the series, with the Russian cruising to a 6-0 1-6 6-3 victory.

"I feel amazing. This is the biggest tournament I ever won, and this is a great accomplishment," AFP quoted Petrova as saying. "At the beginning of the tournament, I didn't expect to be here, because I had a back injury, so it's delightful to be here right now.”

"I used so much energy in the first set and it took a while to get back into the game, and the change of the court helped me a little bit to think about what I needed to do in the third set," the 30-year-old said.

The Tokyo victory marks Petrova’s 16th career WTA title, and her second title of 2012 after winning a tournament in the Dutch city of Hertogenbosch.