By Bill Scott Sep 17, 2006, 16:57 GMT
Bali, Indonesia - Svetlana Kuznetsova completed a tropical trophy hat-trick Sunday at the Wismilak International with a mildly controversial 7-5, 6-2 win over French challenger Marion Bartoli.
But the result in one hour, 40 minutes which took the world number 5 Russian to her third title in Bali after 2002 and 2004 was marred by a minor incident.
Early in the pre-match warm-up, the top seed slammed over a ball which hit a shocked Bartoli on the left arm. The incident sent the sixth seed to the sidelines for some ice and brought a few tears.
Kuznetsova said it was an unfortunate accident. 'She was right at the net and I was behind the baseline. We were hitting hard,' said the Russian. 'Of course I ran up and said I was sorry,
'But when she saw that ball coming, she didn't seem to move. I'm sorry it happened, but I couldn't do anything else, I couldn't take the shot back.'
Bartoli, 26th in the world who had upset Swiss second seed Patty Schnyder in the semi-finals, said she had never experienced anything like it.
'It didn't affect my game, but it was a shock. She hit the ball hard straight at me,' said Bartoli, winner of her first WTA title last January in Auckland.
'That's not the way you warm up. She apologized but I couldn't believe it.'
Kuznetsova now 7-7 in career finals, said the contest was something of an anti-climax after she beat former number 1 Lindsay Davenport a day earlier.
'I went into this match as a favourite,' said the seed. 'It felt different out there today, maybe not so exciting for me.'
The Russian stands a flawless 13-0 at the beachside resort venue as she prepares to play next week in Beijing, where Bartoli will also be present in a field headed by France's Amelie Mauresmo.
Kuznetsova added Bali to her only other trophy this season, earned at Miami in March. She lost the final at the French Open in June to Justine Henin-Hardenne.
The winner was patchy on serve with nine double-faults, but ultimately provided the punch she needed to get through on one hour, 40 minutes.
The opening set required nearly an hour as it turned into a struggle with Bartoli claiming back an early break and saving two set points in the tenth game.
But a break in the 12th handed over the set, with Bartoli's energy level dropping in the second set after a near nonstop schedule since after Wimbledon.
'If I could have won the first set, it would have been a different match,' said the 21-year-old Bartoli, 34-21 on the season.
'I need to be able to compete in a lot of tough matches over the weeks. I was getting tired and was feeling the matches I played over the summer.
'I played from the first week of July through the U.S. Open, then had two days off before coming here.'
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