By Erik Gudris                                   Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

(February 12th, 2012) Defending champion Daniela Hantuchova was trying to become a repeat title winner for the first time in her career as she took on Russia's Maria Kirilenko in the finals of the PTT Pattaya Open. Despite not having played Kirilenko in almost four years, Hantuchova was probably expecting a tough fight though she went in as a slight favorite having not dropped a set the entire tournament. 

Kirilenko played Hantuchova close early on in the first set which ended up in a tiebreak that saw both women miss early opportunities up at net before Kirilenko took the breaker seven points to four. In the second set, Hantuchova bounced back by breaking Kirilenko in her opening service game that allowed the Slovakian to open up a 2-0 lead. Building momentum, Hantuchova ran away with the set 6-3.

With vocal supporters for both players yelling out encouragement and pounding away on thunder sticks, the match assumed the atmosphere of a Fed Cup tie with Hantuchova and Kirilenko holding serve until at 2-3, Hantuchova had an opportunity to break but let it slip away. Hantuchova got another chance with Kirilenko serving at 3-4 when the Russian missed a forehand swinging volley that eventually led to two more break point chances for Hantuchova. 

After saving one break point, Kirilenko double faulted at 30-40 to hand Hantuchova the break and the advantage at 5-3. Taking her time between each service point, Hantuchova applied steady pressure on Kirilenko in the backcourt until she found herself at match point. After another long rally, Hantuchova lined up a down the line forehand winner to earn herself a 6-7, 6-3, 6-3 victory and her second consecutive title in Thailand. 

With the win, Hantuchova earns $30,000 and 280 WTA ranking points.