Ivanonic crushes Kuznetsova for Indian Wells win

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) - Top-seeded Serb Ana Ivanovic clinched her first WTA title of the year by hammering Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4 6-3 in the Pacific Life Open final on Sunday.

The 20-year-old from Belgrade broke Kuznetsova, the second seed, three times in the second set to wrap up victory in one hour, 21 minutes at Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

After dominating a first set of quality shot-making, Ivanovic held the edge in an error-prone second before sealing the title by hitting a service return winner to break the Russian to love.

It was the sixth WTA success of Ivanovic's career and the third loss by Kuznetsova in a final this season, following earlier disappointments in Sydney and Doha.

On a sun-drenched afternoon, the opening set went with serve until the ninth game when a crunching forehand by Ivanovic forced an error off Kuznetsova's backhand for the Serb to lead 30-40.

Ivanovic, runner-up at the Australian Open in January, coolly clinched the breakpoint with a whipping topspin forehand winner to edge ahead 5-4.

The elegant Serb then served out to take the opening set in 40 minutes, clinching the final point when the Russian hit a forehand long.

Ivanovic took early control in the second set, breaking in the third game when Kuznetsova pushed a backhand wide to lead 2-1.