By Richard Lucas

(July 24, 2011) After facing a challenge in the quarterfinals against Anna Tatishvili that stretched over three hours, World No. 3 Vera Zvonareva has collected her game, winning the inaugural Baku Cup. She defeated fellow Russian Ksenia Pervak 6-1, 6-4 in the final for her second title of the year.

Despite hitting only 37 percent of her first serves in the opening set, Zvonareva did not face a break point while converting three of her five chances for a comfortable lead. The second set began much the same, as she raced out to a 4-1 lead before a short lapse allowed Pervak to compile two breaks in three chances.

In the end, experience won out, as Zvonareva defeated her 20-year-old opponent for ninth career title on hard courts. Zvonareva will take a week off from competition before returning to play in the Mercury Insurance Open in Carlsbad, California.