No. 1 seed and defending champion Vera Zvonareva claimed her second consecutive title in Memphis by defeating No. 3 seed Meghann Shaughnessy 7-6(3), 6-2. The 19-year-old Russian got off to a slow start and was down 3-0 in the first set. After a long fourth game, which she won, she recovered breaking Shaughnessy's serve and tie at 3-3.

From then on, both players held serve consistently to reach the tie-break. At 3-2 for Shaughnessy, Zvonareva hit an unstoppable backhand down the line to finish one of the longest rallies of the match. She went to win the next four consecutive points to close the set.

"She started very well and it took me some time to get my rythim. I was able to get my game back and play the way I've been doing in the days before and I was fine after that." Zvonareva said.

In the second set, Zvonareva continued to pound her fierce groundstrokes and broke Shaughessy's serve at 2-1 to take the lead and needed only one match point on her opponent's serve to finish the match in 1 hour, 34 minutes of play.

With the win, Zvonareva improves to 8-3 in 2005 and defends a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title for the first time in her career.

"I was really happy to be back in the finals here. I wasn't really thinking about the pressure of being the defending champion, but I'm really happy to have won in here since this was the first time that I've been in this situation."

The Doubles final was won by the colorful Japanese qualifier duo of Miho Saeki and Yuka Yoshida, who defeated No. 3 seed Americans Laura Granville and Abigail Spears 6-3, 6-4.

THE PLACE TO BE….. Feb. 11 – 20 ….. is The Racquet Club of Memphis. Ten days of world class tennis awaits you. Help serve an ace to the players, the Memphis community, and the children of St. Jude by purchasing tickets to the always-exciting event.

To purchase your tickets and receive additional information, call Carolyn Hicks at 901.685.ACES or visit the tournament website www.regionsmorgankeeganchampionships.com.