Hantuchova retains Pattaya Open title

PATTAYA: Slovakia's third-seeded Daniela Hantuchova successfully defended her Pattaya Open title on Sunday, beating fourth seed Russian Maria Kirilenko in a marathon three hour 14-minute battle.

The three sets victory 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-3 was Hantuchova's fifth career title, and means the world number 20 is now unbeaten in 10 matches at the Thai resort, where her victory this year brings her $37,000.

Her Russian opponent and world number 26 Kirilenko was playing in her 10th career final, and hoping to win her first title since she beat Samantha Stosur in Seoul in 2008.

In a match contested largely from the baseline, Hantuchova struggled at first to find her rhythm and dropped her serve with a double-fault in the opening game.

In the second set, both players held break points, but it was Hantuchova who broke in the first and final games.

The final set began with both players dropping their serve to love.

Hantuchova then held off a break point at 1-1, failed to convert three break points for a 3-1 lead and another to lead 4-2, but safely served out the match after her opponent had produced her seventh double-fault. (AFP)