Safina takes Pan Pacific title in Tokyo

TOKYO, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- Russian Dinara Safina claimed her fourth WTA title of 2008 Sunday, defeating countrywoman Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Pan Pacific tournament in Tokyo.

The 22-year-old Safina, a silver medal-winner in the Beijing Olympics, downed Kuznetsova 6-2, 6-3 in a match that lasted 1 1/4 hours.

Safina, the tournament's fourth seed, also won titles in Berlin, Los Angeles and Montreal this season.

Kuznetsova, the 2004 U.S. Open champion, has not won an event in 2008.