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Pennetta holds off Cornet to capture Acapulco crown

Sun 2nd, March 2008

Acapulco, Mexico (Sports Network) - Flavia Pennetta defeated Frenchwoman Alize Cornet to claim the title at the $180,000 Abierto Mexicano Telcel tennis event.

The top-seeded Italian earned a 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 victory Saturday to claim her second WTA singles title in 2008 and sixth of her career.

The clay-loving Pennetta has appeared in the last five finals here, going 2-3. She was last year's runner-up to France's Emilie Loit and titled here in 2005. Pennetta also had runner-up finishes in 2004 and 2006.

"I think I started the match very well, focusing really hard and not making many mistakes, just lots of winners," Pennetta said. "But in the second set I started thinking about the victory and got a little nervous. I sat down after the second set and thought about what I needed to do to take control again, and I just tried to focus like I did in the first set."

The 18-year-old Cornet, seeded second this week, was making her first appearance in a WTA Tour final.

Saturday's victory was worth a first prize of $28,700 for Pennetta.

"It's disappointing to lose today; I felt pretty far away from the victory," Cornet said. "But I think Flavia deserved to win today. And this is such a nice tournament so I hope I can come back next year."

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