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Russian pair secure Kremlin honors

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MOSCOW, Russia -- Top seed Nikolay Davydenko beat Davis Cup team-mate Marat Safin 6-4 5-7 6-4 in the all-Russian Kremlin Cup final on Sunday to complete a unique double for the host country.

Earlier, in another all-Russian affair unseeded Anna Chakvetadze upset fifth seed Nadia Petrova 6-4 6-4 in the women's final to win her second title in a month.

Davydenko broke the former world number one twice at the start of the third set to build a 3-0 lead before completing victory in the first all-Russian men's final in the 16-year history of the Moscow indoor event.

"I was hoping to play Marat in the final," said Davydenko, who a step closer to securing a place in next month's season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai.

"Although I lost to Safin twice this year, I beat him in our last meeting in Estoril and with this win I've proved that I'm playing better than him for the time being," added the world number five, who also won here in 2004.

Safin, who was bidding for his first title since winning the Australian Open in January, 2005, was left to rue missed chances.

"If I held my serve in the third set I'd have had a good chance to win," he said.

"It has been a very tough year for me," added Safin, who returned to the tour in February after six months out with a knee injury.

"I've suffered a lot of painful defeats this year, matches I think I should have won because my confidence was low. And today was one of those unlucky days for me."

Chakvetadze, who earned her maiden WTA title in Guangzhou, China two weeks ago, outplayed the more experienced Petrova thanks to an excellent all-round game and greater court coverage.

Petrova, chasing her sixth title of the year, was playing with both thighs heavily strapped and was also nursing a chest injury.

"I was a little bit lucky today because Nadia was obviously not 100 percent fit," said Chakvetadze, who beat Petrova in both of their previous matches this year.

"But still I'm very happy to win in here in Moscow," added the 19-year-old Muscovite, who will take home $196,900 for her efforts.

She reached the last four without hitting a ball after U.S. Open champion and second seed Maria Sharapova pulled out with a foot injury on Friday.

Chakvetadze broke the world number five in the ninth game to clinch the first set then twice more to take a 4-1 lead in the second.

Although, Petrova pulled one break back the 24th-ranked Chakvetadze held on to record the biggest victory of her career.

She converted her first match point when Petrova netted a forehand.

Chakvetadze will now move into the top 20 for the first time. She is projected to reach number 16 when the new rankings are released on Monday.


story.davydenko.jpg

Davydenko admires his trophy after his Moscow win over Safin in an historic day for Russian tennis.

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