Chakvetadze beats Szavay in Paris Open final

By Myrtille Rambion

PARIS (Reuters) - Russia's Anna Chakvetadze won her seventh career title from as many finals when she overcame Hungary's Agnes Szavay 6-3 2-6 6-2 in the Paris Open on Sunday.

World number seven Chakvetadze, the top seed in the indoor event, needed over two hours to win a scrappy match with many unforced errors from both players until a thrilling third set, in which the pair played close to perfection.

Struggling with her serve, the 19-year-old Szavay found herself 4-0 down in the first set which Chakvetadze wrapped up after 37 minutes.

The rising Szavay, who has won two titles, fought back in the second set, which she won easily after opening up a 4-0 lead.

Chakvetadze, who made her breakthrough last year by winning four titles and reaching the U.S. Open semi-finals, then underwent treatment on a sore shoulder, which did not stop her from playing extremely well in the decisive set.

Szavay kept fighting but showed signs of nerves at the worst possible moment, handing her opponent two match points with a double fault. She saved the first before bowing out with an unforced error on the second.

Chakvetadze, who turns 21 next month, will climb to sixth when the latest WTA rankings are released on Monday, with Szavay moving up two places to 18th.