Thai claims first grass title

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-22  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

THAI qualifier Tamarine Tanasugarn beat third-seeded Dinara Safina 7-5, 6-3 yesterday to win her first grass title at the Ordina Open in Den Bosch, Netherlands.

Playing with a bandaged thigh, the Los Angeles-born Tanasugarn clinched the win with a powerful forehand winner.

"I guess my play is well-suited well for grass," said Tanasugarn. "Many thanks to all of you who have come to watch and support me."

Safina, the 2006 runner-up and a semifinalist last year, said Tanasugarn had been the better player. "She has a lot of experience and she played well today," the Russian said.

Top-seeded David Ferrer became the first Spaniard to win at Ordina when he beat Frenchman Marc Gicquel 6-4, 6-2 in the men's final.

In Eastbourne, England, Agnieszka Radwanska won her fourth career title by beating Nadia Petrova 6-4, 6-7 (11), 6-4 yesterday in the final of the Eastbourne International Women's Open.

Radwanska of Poland also won at Pattaya and Istanbul this year, and she joins American Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova of Russia as the only players to earn three titles in 2008.

Russian eighth-seed Petrova was looking for her first crown since the Paris indoor title in February 2007.