Szávay defends WTA title in Budapest

No. 7 seed Ágnes Szávay of Hungary defeated Patty Schnyder of Switzerland 6-2, 6-4 to defend her 2009 title in the final of the USD 220,000 GDF Suez Grand Prix women's tennis tournament in Budapest Sunday.

In the first set of the repeat of last year's final, played in the József Asbóth Court of the Római Tennis Academy, Szávay began by breaking Schnyder's serve and went on to take a 4-0 lead. The Hungarian player wrapped up the set 6-2 but the end was so tight that she asked for her coach's advice.

The second set was more balanced and Szávay made a hard-fought break at 4-all before she wrapped up the set 6-4.

“There was great expectation by the audience to see me defend the title. It was quite unpleasant to play against Patty as she is left-handed and has strong spins in an angle to send me almost to the stands to return the ball with backhand. She moved me a lot on court that way but I'm happy that I managed to counter those shots and win the game ” - Szávay said.

It was the third encounter between the two players on the WTA Tour. Last year, Szávay won in the final of the Budapest tournament and in 2010, Szávay retired in the first set due to thigh injury in Madrid.

Szávay is the second player to defend her title in Budapest after Anna Smashnova of Israel who won here in 2005 and 2006.

For her victory Agnes Szávay receives USD 37,000 and 280 points, while Patty Schnyder is given USD 19,000 and 200 points.

In the doubles final, the second seed duo of Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland and Tathiana Garbin of Italy defeated the top seed pair Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain and Sorana Cirstea of Romania 6-3, 6-3