EASTBOURNE, England, June 19 (UPI) -- Svetlana Kuznetsova battled back from the brink of defeat Saturday to win the Hastings Direct International Women's Championships.
The second-seeded Russian rallied past Slovakian wild card Daniela Hantuchova, 2-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4, in 2 hours, 8 minutes to win this grasscourt warmup for Wimbledon, which begins on Monday.
Kuznetsova twice was two points from losing when Hantuchova served for the match at 6-5 in the second set. She forced a tiebreaker, which she won easily.
In the deciding set, Hantuchova volleyed wide to be broken for a 5-4 deficit. Kuznetsova faced three break points in the 10th game, but held her nerve to win her first title of the year.
The 18-year-old Kuznetsova earned her third career tournament victory after coming up short in three previous finals this season. She takes on a qualifier in the first round at Wimbledon.
