Tokyo, Japan (Sports Network) - Nadia Petrova earned a three-set victory over
defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska to capture the Pan Pacific Open
title on Saturday.
The 17th-seeded Petrova jumped out to a strong start and survived a charge
from the third-seeded Radwanska to secure a 6-0, 1-6, 6-3 victory in 1-hour,
41-minutes.
It is the 12th career WTA title and second in 2012 for the Russian, who won
the Wimbledon tune-up in the Netherlands back in June. The 30-year-old tour
veteran improved to 12-11 in WTA finals.
Radwanska, meanwhile, fell to 10-4 all-time in finals. The 23-year-old
Wimbledon runner-up was attempting to capture her 11th career WTA title
and fourth this year
Petrova improved to 2-3 lifetime against Radwanska. All four previous matches
were played in 2008, including a 6-3, 6-0 Petrova rout in the quarterfinals
of this event. Radwanska won the only previous final between the two, a 6-4,
6-7 (11-13), 6-4 thriller at the Wimbledon tune-up in Eastbourne.
For her efforts in Tokyo, Petrova earned a first prize of $385,000.
The Sports Network