By Chris Soderstrom
Russia’s Nadia Petrova claimed her breakthrough title of 2008 yesterday by claiming the WTA Western and Southern Financial Group Open in Cincinnati.
The second-seed crushed Nathalie Dechy of France 6-2, 6-1 in just 70 minutes.
Improving to a record of 6-2 against Dechy, who was playing her first title match in four years, Petrova fired three aces and saved four of 10 break point opportunities.
The Russian won her first title since February last year in Paris and hopes to carry her Cincinnati form into the US Open which begins in eight days.