Muskina Wins All-russian Final in Paris

Welcome though the variation was, coming after five all-Williams finals and three all-Belgian finals in the previous eight grand slams, the women's denouement in which Anastasia Myskina beat Elena Dementieva 6-1, 6-2 in the first all-Russian final was probably not the tectonic shift that some have heralded. At least, not just yet.

True, there are 13 Russians in the women's top 100 and many more juniors in the wings, but the arrival of Myskina and Dementieva in the final at Roland Garros was somewhat fortuitous - perhaps entirely so in Dementieva's case. Kim Clijsters was injured, Justine Henin-Hardenne, last year's champion, had not recovered from glandular fever, and Serena and Venus Williams were underprepared.

All titles have to be earned, and Myskina, who will climb to No3 in the rankings today behind the two Belgians, beat Venus in the quarter-finals and Jennifer Capriati in the semis. Previously her best grand-slam performances had been two Australian Open quarter-finals, the second this year, and a place in the last eight of the US Open. "I know now I'm one of the best," she said after winning the French title.

Confidence is a wonderful thing and it may be that this win will lift Myskina to a new level. To be sure, the aura that surrounded the Williams sisters has faded, although Wimbledon may and should breathe fresh life into them. Henin will have had a further two weeks to recover, although Clijsters, with her injured wrist, appears unlikely to play there.

Myskina, who is exceptionally quick and has a fine backhand, will need to improve her serve if she is to maintain her challenge and achieve her ambition of being No1 in the world. Her temperament has also been suspect, although in the later stages at Roland Garros she remained commendably calm.

"Every once in a while she tends to lose her manners and her head on court, or towards me or her family," said her German coach Jens Gerlach, who was formerly her boyfriend. "But she always apologises."

"I've worked on it," Myskina said. "I know it doesn't help if you yell at somebody. I was really yelling at myself more than anyone. It's hard work and my coach helped me a lot with it. Finally, I've become much more professional."

Gerlach, who received a fearful on-court ear-bashing in Myskina's quarter-final defeat by Clijsters in this year's Australian Open, has constantly reminded her how good she is, and encouraged her accordingly. Now it has borne fruit.

However, 20 minutes before the final against Dementieva, Myskina wept in the locker room, the emotions of the previous days welling to the surface, and it needed Deb Lenaghan, the WTA trainer, to give her tips on how to breathe and relax.

Dementieva revealed she could barely breathe at all once the final started and she was unable to control her nerves. Her suspect serve all but disintegrated. In all she hit 10 double faults in the final and 67 in the tournament. During the seventh game of the second set she yelled: "I hate my serve." Later she broke down, tearfully admitting: "I don't know how to serve." It was impossible not to feel sorry for her and to hope this will not be her last opportunity to try to win a slam.

It may be that this first all-Russian final will be the precursor of others. Maria Sharapova, 17, who reached her first slam quarter-final here, has been schooled in the US since she was nine, and one of the best performances here came from another 17-year-old Russian, Maria Kirilenko, who took a set off Serena Williams in the second round.

Dementieva - Myskina

47% 1st serve % 63%

1 Aces

10 Double faults 5

33 Unforced errors 17

11 Winners 12

33% Break points won 63%

39 Total points won 62