Safina stumbles into final

Safina,ranked No 1,won despite erratic play that included seven double-faults. “I’m trying to control my emotions,” she said. “I’m not playing my best,but still it’s not easy to beat me.”

Safina was runner-up to Ana Ivanovic last year at Roland Garros,and lost this year’s Australian Open final to Serena Williams. She has an 8-5 record against Kuznetsova,and they split two meetings in finals last month. “I really want to win this tournament,” Safina said. “I had a very good experience last year,and I hope to do better this year.”

Safina’s ranking has drawn criticism because she has yet to win a major championship. But in the four tournaments since she climbed to No 1 in April,she’s 20-1 with two titles,a runner-up finish and the berth in the French Open final. “Since I became No 1,I’m playing finals and winning the titles,” she said. “So how much more proof I need to give the people that I think I deserve that spot?”

Her brother,Marat Safin,is a former No 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion. The family’s notorious temper was evident in the semi-final. At least twice Safina screamed a vulgarity at herself in English that TV microphones picked up,and an announcer apologised to the European audience.

Her language was cleaner when she shanked a backhand into the dirt. “That was a great shot,” she said. Later in the same game,Safina misfired so badly on a first serve that she drove the ball into the clay in front of the net. She held anyway for a 4-2 lead in the second set.

Safina kissed the corner with a forehand winner to reach match point and closed out the victory when Cibulkova put a backhand in the net. The match was played from behind the baseline,and it was into the seventh game before either played attempted a volley. The 5-foot-3 Cibulkova was at a disadvantage in rallies because she often had to hit the ball above eye level,while high-kicking shots were right in the 5-foot-11.5 Safina’s hitting zone.

On a sunny,cool afternoon,Safina started slowly. She fell behind 2-love,then began to find the range and won five consecutive games. She struggled to close out the set,sailing returns long on three successive set points,but converted on the fourth try with a booming forehand.

A lob winner over Cibulkova helped Safina earn the first break of the second set for a 3-2 lead,and she closed out the victory despite her fitful moments. Safina finished with 24 winners,while her opponent had 11 winners and 21 unforced errors.