Shanghai smashing

Kournikova still looking for first singles title

Anna Kournikova won only five games in the final. AP

SHANGHAI, China (AP) -- It was as close as Anna Kournikova has come.

The 21-year-old Russian, better known for her glamour and lucrative commercial endorsements, came to Sunday's final of the Shanghai Open looking for her first WTA singles title.

Between her and her seven-year quest stood Anna Smashnova, an opponent Kournikova has defeated in their last two encounters.

But the top-seeded Israeli dashed Kournikova's hopes with a quick 6-2, 6-3 win, shooting accurately and capitalizing on Kournikova's unforced errors.

"I am quite disappointed. She played her game, and I didn't play the right way," Kournikova told reporters. "I tried to mix it up. I should have been more aggressive, gone to the net more."

Kournikova finally tasted victory when she returned to the court a few hours later with partner Janet Lee. They beat Ai Sugiyama and Rika Fujiwara 7-5, 6-3 in the doubles finals.

It was Kournikova's 16th doubles title since turning pro in 1995.

But after the games, the Russian dwelled on her failure to win her first singles title in 115 WTA tournaments. She last appeared in a final in 2000 in Moscow, and was hampered last year by a broken foot.

"Not only did the fans here wish me to win, but so did the fans all over the world," Kournikova said.

Kournikova expressed frustration at her inability to ruffle Smashnova or to gain momentum in the match.

"She was like a wall today, hitting everything back," Kournikova said.

Smashnova said the Russian had the ability to win a singles title -- just not this time.

"She's still young and will have more chances to win," Smashnova said. "Anna's not an easy opponent to beat, and I've lost to her a couple times."

"Every final is difficult because both players want to win," she added.

Kournikova didn't shirk on effort, running faster and hitting the ball harder than Smashnova.

But the Russian, who went into the tournament ranked 38th in the world, repeatedly hit balls too long from the baseline and missed key net shots.

Meanwhile, 19th-ranked Smashnova remained precise and controlled. The 26-year-old Israeli pleased the crowd on several occasions with perfect winners hit in mid-stride as Kournikova was left looking on.

Smashnova seized the rhythm of the match early and never let go.

She broke Kournikova's serve in the first game, and then easily held her own serve.

It wasn't until the third game of the first set that Kournikova managed to score a point, when Smashnova made an uncharacteristic error and hit a shot wide.

At times, Kournikova overpowered her opponent, as when she hit her first ace in the first set, a 165 kph (103 mph) rocket that Smashnova only barely reached with her racket.

The Russian beat Smashnova last month in the Acura Classic and in July at the Bank of the West Classic.

But Smashnova's experience seemed to pay off. This is her sixth WTA title since turning pro in 1991, and her fourth this year.

Her most recent title was June's Wien Energie Grand Prix in Vienna, Austria.

Smashnova remained unflustered even as Kournikova showered her with hard shots. The Israeli seemed to patiently wear Kournikova down, returning shot after shot until the Russian made an error.

"In the match, I tried to play my game. I tried to stick to my game. In fact I played better than Kournikova, so I won," Smashnova said. Kournikova's frustration began to show in the second set.

She made several errors, including a sure-thing drop shot that fizzled into the net, that allowed Smashnova to break serve in the first game.

By the second game, Kournikova was red in the face and disputing calls.

But she quickly regained composure. After a final missed shot handed Smashnova the victory, Kournikova smiled and kissed her opponent on the cheeks.

In doubles, it was Kournikova's turn to benefit from opponents' errors. She and Lee, of Taiwan, took the lead early and never lost momentum, playing strong on the baseline and at net.

Sugiyama and Fujiwara, the top-seeded doubles duo from Japan, struggled with missed opportunities, repeatedly hitting key shots wide or into net.

They also struggled with Kournikova's serves. The Russian blazed two aces by them at crucial points in the second set.

She and Lee broke their opponents' serve in the final game to clinch the championship.

 

Related information

Stories

Kournikova advances to final, looking for first title

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video