Svetlana Kuznetsova, who had lost her last six finals, defeated world No.1 Dinara Safina 6-4 6-3 at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix to win her first title since August 2007.

Kuznetsova was in command in the all-Russian final and sent Safina to a third final defeat of the season, after Sydney and Australian Open. Safina had five break points, but converted none of them, while Kuznetsova the 2004 US Open champion now ranked No. 9, converted two out of four.

Safina was playing her first tournament since becoming No.1. Kuznetsova will definitely remember this victory, it’s her first title in a long time, plus, she won the white Porsche. (photo via Yahoo)

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World No.1 and top seed Dinara Safina once again used her impressive comeback skills to defeat Flavia Pennetta 3-6 7-5 6-0 and reach the Stuttgart final where she will face fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova.

The world No.14 Pennetta seemed to be on a good way to victory as she won the first set and was close to winning the second, too. However, when Safina leveled at 5-5 in the second set, she never looked back and won the next eight games. Pennetta showed powerful groundstrokes, but as she lost her chances she became burnt out and Safina started dominating.

Safina now has a 6-0 head-to-head record against Pennetta.

Earlier, fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova crushed compatriot and second seed Elena Dementieva 6-4 6-2 with surprising ease in just 67 minutes to book her place in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix final.

In Sunday’s final Kuznetsova will be trying to win her first tournament since New Haven in 2007. Safina will be going for her first title of the season, after losing in two finals in 2009, in Sydney and at the Australian Open. (photos via Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

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Defending champion Jelena Jankovic will not add the white Porsche to her car collection, as she was beaten in the quarterfinals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix by Flavia Pennetta.

I have to say it’s a pity we won’t see Jelena’s proud photos next to this luxurious car. Remember those with the red Porsche she won last year in Stuttgart?

The world No.14 Pennetta won the quarterfinal 2-6 6-4 6-4. Jankovic managed to come back from 2-0 down in the third set, and had her chance to end it as a victor, but dropped her serve in the seventh game once again. Pennetta then kept the lead and entered the semifinals on the first match point.

Pennetta will next face the winner of the match between world No.1 Dinara Safina and Agnieszka Radwanska. Second seed Elena Dementieva and fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova are the other semifinal pair. (photo: Ralf Reinecke)

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Second seed Elena Dementieva and third seed Jelena Jankovic advanced to the quarterfinals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.

Dementieva played Agnes Szavay in the second round and despite being 4-1 behind in the first set, the Russian battled back to win the set in the tiebreak. Dementieva then cruised through the second set, but needed five match points to seal victory.

"I am still finding my feet on clay court. It is my first tournament of the year (on clay) and my footwork needs to improve," said Dementieva, who will next face Marion Bartoli, the winner over Caroline Wozniacki in the second round.

Defending champion Jelena Jankovic overcame Germany’s promising player Sabine Lisicki, who won Family Circle Cup this month, and beat 20th-ranked Patty Schnyder in the previous round in Stuttgart. The world No.42 Lisicki took Jankovic to three sets, but the Serb won 7-5 5-7 6-3 after two hours and 13 minutes of play.

Jankovic will encounter Flavia Pennetta or sixth seed Nadia Petrova in the quarterfinals. (photo: Ralf Reinecke)

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Fourth seed Victoria Azarenka was upset 6-4 6-3 in the second round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix by claycourt specialist Gisela Dulko.

The world number eight Azarenka came into the Stuttgart event off the back of three tournament wins this season: Brisbane, Memphis and Miami.

Defending champion Jelena Jankovic lost just two games to Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova to reach the second round. She will next face Sabine Lisicki following her 6-4 6-3 win over Patty Schnyder.

In other first-round matches fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova had a hard task against German qualifier Andrea Petkovic, winning 6-4 5-7 6-1. Nadia Petrova also needed three sets to beat Zheng Jie 6-4 5-7 6-4, while Daniela Hantuchova defeated Alize Cornet 6-3 6-1. Also, Flavia Pennetta advanced with a 6-2 6-0 victory over Anna Chakvetadze. (photo: Ralf Reinecke)

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