Kuznetsova Powers Past Dementieva in All-Russian US Open Final

Two sets and it was "ova." Another Russian slam title, three out of four this year.

Russian 19-year-old Svetlana Kuznetsova used her power baseline game to bludgeon countrywoman Elena Dementieva 6-3, 7-5 Saturday night to win the US Open in her first slam final. The loss sent Dementieva, who lost 6-1, 6-1 to Anastasia Myskina in the French Open final earlier this year, spiraling to an 0-2 record in slam finals.

Key for Kuznetsova was taking monstrous cuts at the weak Dementieva serve, something that Jennifer Capriati couldn't manage in the semifinals, hitting outright winners or immediately putting Dementieva on the defensive.

It was the fourth career title for Kuznetsova after 2004 Eastbourne, and 2002 Helsinki and Bali.

On court Kuznetsova thanked former doubles partners Aranxta Sanchez-Vicario and Martina Navratilova, and touchingly dedicated her victory to the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks in the U.S. and the Russian school deaths.