Dementieva digs deep for victory

Top seed Elena Dementieva fought back from a set down to claim the title at the Open GDF Suez in Paris with a hard-fought 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 6-4 victory over Lucie Safarova.

The Russian world number seven had to dig deep for victory and go one better than last year when she lost to Amelie Mauresmo in the final in a match which lasted more than two and a quarter hours.

The match was full of big serving, Dementieva producing nine aces and Safarova five.

However, it was Safarova, who had upset second seed Flavia Pennetta to reach today’s final, who claimed the first set on a tie-break as she looked to improve on her 2007 showing when she lost to Nadia Petrova at the same stage.

Dementieva romped through the second set but the decider was far closer with the Czech player saving match point on her own serve and holding to go to 5-4.

Safarova led in that final game but eventually Dementieva prevailed to take victory 6-4 in the last set.