Hingis defeats Kournikova to capture Kremlin Cup

World No 1 Martina Hingis, making her debut in the $2.05 million Kremlin Cupin Moscow, beat her doubles partner and home favourite Anna Kournikova in straight sets 6-3, 6-1 today to capture her 34th career title.

World No 1 Martina Hingis, making her debut in the $2.05 million Kremlin Cupin Moscow, beat her doubles partner and home favourite Anna Kournikova in straight sets 6-3, 6-1 today to capture her 34th career title.

In the men's final, Olympic champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov defeated David Prinosil of Germany 6-2, 7-5 for his fourth straight Kremlin Cup title, his first ATP Tour title this year.

Hingis, playing her 11th final this year, won the two final games of the first set at love to close the first set in 26 minutes.

The Swiss star continued trashing her Russian partner in the second set, winning three games in a row before Kournikova could break her in the fourth. And that was was all the Russian star could do. Hingis broke back and gave Kournikova just one point in two final games to close the match in 46 minutes.

Kournikova was supported by a sell-out crowd of 16,300 at the Olympic stadium.

"I'm glad I got to the finals and I am upset at losing the match," she said afterward. "I played well yesterday, but today Martina played better. I struggled until the last point."

Hingis said after the match, "I think in the beginning, it was a very even match, but in the second set she started missing a little bit more. I knew I had to play very well against her today because she had nothing to lose and the crowd supported her."

Hingis eliminated Kveta Hrdlickova of the Czech Republic, Olympic silver medalist Elena Dementieva of Russia, France's Amelie Mauresmo and finally Kournikova, giving up only one set on her way to her eighth title this year.

Hingis has won three of four Grand Slams and all other Championships, and with victories in Zurich two weeks ago and now in Moscow she has completed her collection of Tier 1 titles. Hingis is still looking to win the French Open.

Kournikova will re-enter the rankings as World No. 10 for the first time since April this year.

In the men's final action, second-seeded Kafelnikov, currently No. 7 on the ATP Tour rankings, overcame tough opposition and broke Prinosil, No. 56 in the world, twice in the opening set to close it in 28 minutes.

"I didn't have a slightest doubt in my victory today," said Kafelnikov.

Both traded breaks twice in the second set when Prinosil, 15-40 down on his serve in the 11th game, made a double-fault and left himself no chance to stay in the match.

"I was a little bit tired," said Prinosil, who upset top-seeded U.S. Open champion Marat Safin of Russia in the semifinals on Saturday.

Despite the victory Kafelnikov will remain No.5 in the ATP Champions Race.

For her 70th victory this year, Hingis won $166,000. Kafelnikov won $137,000.