Dementieva lifts Paris title

Elena Dementieva gave up the first set but eventually had too many guns for Czech Lucie Safarova as she clinched the Open GDF Suez.

Russian fights back to see off brave Czech

Elena Dementieva gave up the first set but eventually had too many guns for Czech Lucie Safarova as she clinched the Open GDF Suez in Paris. It was the Russian's first victory in the event after she lost the final to Amelie Mauresmo 12 months ago, the top seed coming out on top 6-7 6-1 6-4 in just over two-and-a-quarter hours. The unseeded Czech made the brighter start as she broke the Dementieva serve in the opening game, but the Russian got back on serve at 3-3. However, 46th-ranked Safarova edged the tie-break 7-5 meaning Dementieva would have to come from a set behind for the third consecutive match. That she did, cruising through the second set 6-1 before significantly breaking in the seventh game of the deciding set, Safarova bravely holding her serve despite facing match point before the world number seven served out the match. "I have been trying to win this tournament for so many years - it's been one of the most difficult wins of my career and I am so happy," she said. "You have to fight to the very end and if you fight for every point anything can happen. "I will be back to play Roland Garros because I love playing in Paris."