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Nalbandian and Kuznetsova end their title droughts

WASHINGTON: Argentina's injury-plagued David Nalbandian won his first ATP title since January of last year by defeating eighth seed Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus 6-2, 7-6(4) in Sunday's Washington Classic final.

Meanwhile, in the final of the WTA San Diego Open, Svetlana Kuznetsova ended a 10-month title drought by beating Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 6-7(7), 6-3.

Nalbandian, sidelined for nine months after hip surgery, made a brief return early this year, then missed two months with a sore hamstring before coming back in July to help Argentina reach the Davis Cup semifinals.

This was his 11th career crown in his first final since winning the title at Sydney 19 months ago.

“We passed very tough moments in the last year-and-a-half with the surgery,” Nalbandian said.

“We have to enjoy this moment. It's tough to come back and play this well. Now we have to keep going.”

The 28-year-old South American has missed the past six Grand Slams and has not played an ATP event since April.

At No.117, Nalbandian is the lowest-ranked player to win an ATP title this year — the win will see him back into the top 45.

“He's a pain when he plays good,” Baghdatis said of Nalbandian. “He played really good. Well done, David.

“I'm glad you came back and I hope you have a great year.”

Nalbandian continued a run of Argentine champions in the US capital after reigning US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro's titles in 2008 and 2009. del Potro was unable to seek a third consecutive crown due to injury.

Russian Kuznetsova squandered four match points before outlasting the Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska.

“This just made me stronger. It didn't kill me,” Kuznetsova said. “I didn't kill myself in the third set.”

This was the 21st-ranked veteran 's 13th career title, and her first crown since she beat Radwanska in the Beijing final last October.

The two-time Grand Slam champion botched four match points in the second-set tie-breaker after squandering leads of 4-0 and 6-3, double-faulting twice on match point to open the door for 10th-ranked Radwanska to force a third set.

“I think I did choke for the very first time in my life,” Kuznetsova said. “I never had this choke before. I don't know why it happened. Here I couldn't make a ball. My knees were shaking.”

Kuznetsova will jump back into the WTA's top 20 with the title here. She has not tumbled outside the top 20 since February of 2004.

The results (finals):

At Washington D.C. (Legg Mason Classic): David Nalbandian bt Marcos Baghdatis 6-2, 7-6(4).

At San Diego (San Diego Open): Svetlana Kuznetsova bt Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 6-7(7), 6-3 . — AFP

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