Ana sweeps to title

August 12, 2007 / Los Angeles

Ana captured her fourth Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title by beating Nadia Petrova 7-5, 6-4 in the final of the East West Bank Classic. The teenager defeated the world No.9 in an hour and 34 minutes to complete a perfect return to the Tour following a short injury-enforced absence.Ana, sporting her new adidas purple top and white skirt outfit, drew first blood when she broke the Russian to lead 2-1. Petrova broke straight back and the next four games included just two points won against the serve.Two double faults by Petrova, accompanied by a searing forehand winner from the 19-year-old, gave Ana a break in the ninth game, but again Petrova broke back.Undeterred, Ana kept the pressure on her opponent, displaying her superb, vastly improved defence. She broke again and this time served out the set, thanks in part to an ace and a forehand winner.Ana maintained her momentum in the opening game of the second set, breaking immediately then holding confidently for 2-0.Serve matched serve for the rest of the set until Ana served for the match at 5-4. She won the opening point with a service winner; the second when Petrova hit a backhand wide; the third with another forehand missile and the fourth with an ace.Ana, who hit 31 winners, squealed with delight and dropped her racket to the ground before commiserating with Petrova. The victory is Ana's 11th over a top 10-ranked player this year and the sixth in her last four events. Only world No.1 Justine Henin, with 12 victories, has won more matches against the world's elite during 2007.Ana, who began the year at No.14, will move to No.4 when the new rankings list is published tomorrow.