Red-hot Jankovic wins Kremlin Cup

World No 1 Jelena Jankovic of Serbia beat Russian Vera Zvonareva in the final to win the women’s draw of the US$2.4 million Kremlin Cup yesterday.

Jankovic won 6-2 6-4 in one hour 21 minutes to record a fourth victory in five head-to-heads with Zvonareva this season and clinch her fourth crown this year.

“I feel really emotional winning my third event in a row here,” Jankovic said, “I feel great as the world’s No 1 and really enjoy it.

“It was very tough to win the final as Vera never gives up. She forced me to play my best tennis to win today I had a lot of fun this week and probably will come back here next year to defend my title.”

The 23-year-old Serbian, who was playing her sixth final of the season, started the match with an immediate break for a comfortable 2-0 lead. Jankovic then broke again to take the opening set in 33 minutes.

In the second set Jankovic produced two more breaks but Zvonareva, ranked ninth in the world, picked up steam and broke back to level on both occasions.

But in the ninth game Jankovic managed to make the deciding break, going on to wrap up the match and take the title.

Jankovic received a silver trophy and a $196,900 prize cheque, while runner-up Zvonareva pocketed $105,800.

Earlier, Igor Kunitsyn marched into the men’s final after seeing off French veteran Fabrice Santoro 6-4 6-3.

Kunitsyn, 26, and currently 71 in the ATP rankings, took the opening set in 52 minutes while, in the second, Kunitsyn, who was playing his first semi-final, broke twice for a big 5-2 lead.

The 35-year-old Santoro saved two match points but then Kunitsyn enjoyed a third break to record his second win over Santoro in three head-to head meetings.

“I knew that he [Santoro] would battle for every point and was ready for it,” Kunitsyn said.

AP, Moscow