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Pivovarova, Devvarman Claim Futures Titles

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By CRISTINA LEDRA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 14, 2008

ST. LEO - Sunday's women's singles final of the Grand Slam Futures Tampa Bay at Saint Leo University was Anastasia Pivovarova's shortest match of the tournament, but it was the one with the biggest payoff.

Pivovarova, the sixth-seeded women's player in the tournament, beat Audra Cohen, last year's NCAA women's singles champion at the University of Miami, 6-4, 6-0.

"I was patient," Pivovarova said. "I knew that Audra had to get to the finals through the qualifying rounds and she was much more tired than me. I had more energy I think for that match and I just wanted to keep the ball in play."

Pivovarova did appear to be the sharper of the two during the 80-minute match.

"She had a really good serve," Pivovarova said. "It was hard for me to return it and also she was changing the pace, hitting the ball from the forehand and hitting flat also so it was hard to place against that."

Pivovarova also was a runner-up in the women's doubles championship with Corinna Dentoni on Saturday.

The men's singles final was to be played immediately after the women's match, but a driving rain caused that match to be delayed for several hours.

The delay came a couple of games into the match and when it resumed, Somdev Devvarman, a senior at the University of Virginia and the 2007 NCAA men's singles champion, ousted Dusan Vemic 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Reporter Cristina Ledra can be reached at (813) 948-4203 or cledra@tampatrib.com.

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