Errani takes title in Palermo against Russian

In Palermo, Italy, everything was heading towards a final between the two top the seeds, Flavia Pennetta and Anabel Medina Garrigues. But the dream final came to an end when Pennetta was defeated by Sara Errani and Medina Garrigues was ousted by Mariya Koryttseva in the semifinals, and at the end Errani was too good for Koryttseva and beat the Russian in straight sets to take the title on Sunday.

Errani, No. 5 seed at Palermo, pulled of the first major upset in the semis against Pennetta, rallying down from 1-5 in the first set to win the match 75 63. She even saved a set point and then felt in control to take the match against her countrywoman.

"My semifinal match with Flavia was the best match of the tournament for me," said Errani, who fell to Pennetta in the semifinals of Acapulco last year, 62 64. "I went in with nothing to lose and she was playing very well, but when I got down 5-1 I just tried to hang in there. Soon it became 2-5, 3-5, 4-5... without really thinking I came back into the match and just played better and better."

On the other side of the draw, seventh seeded Koryttseva was making a great run in Palermo, even though she went to three sets in her first two matches, and in the quarterfinals she battled against Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and eventually won, and going up against Medina Garrigues, it looked like her run was going to end, but Mariya surprised everyone with a straight sets defeat over the second seed.

"My semifinal was a very good match; I was using the right tactics and executed them well," said Koryttseva, whose first final came at Kolkata last year, where she was runner-up to Maria Kirilenko. "I had a tough first few matches but I was feeling really good when I played Anabel. She was a big favorite in that match."

Errani showed many skills in the final against Koryttseva, and even though it went to deuce in many games, it was always Errani who had the better pulled them off, and after an hour and 28 minutes, Errani easily defeated Koryttseva in straight sets, 63 62, to take the title.

"It was a great match for me; maybe neither of us played our best but it was very important for me to win today," Errani said. "I think the difference between us was I was stronger in the long points. It was difficult to stay physically strong the whole week because it's very hot here, but I think I did better in the end."

"I didn't play that well in the final; I was trying my best but it just wasn't my day," Koryttseva said. "She was using smart tactics and I just wasn't able to play my game. It's especially disappointing because I played so well yesterday. I could have won my first title today but I can't think about that - tomorrow is another day and another tournament. I just try to improve my game, day by day."