Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated Slovak Daniela Hantuchova 2-6, 7-6 and 6-4 to win the Eastbourne International tennis tournament on Saturday.

This was the first title for the second-seeded Russian who had lost her last three finals since September 2002 in Bali.

And Kuznetsova also became the third Russian champion in as many weeks after Anastasia Myskina won the French Open two weeks ago and Maria Sharapova won last week's grasscourt tournament in Edgbaston.

"It's great for Russians," the 18-year-old Kuznetsova said, "I just could not get into the match at the start, and Daniela was playing so unbelievably. I just tried to stay in the second set."

For Hantuchova, reaching the final was a triumph after she dropped to 54th from fifth in the last 18 months following a difficult 2003 due to a diet.

Since then, the 21-year-old Hantuchova reunited with British coach Nigel Sears. She beat top seed Amelie Mauresmo in the semi-finals on Friday to reach her first final since October 2002.