Pain can’t stop Kulikova

While most tennis players are wrapping up their 2009 season, Regina Kulikova is just starting hers.

The 20-year-old from St. Petersburg, Russia, has been hampered by an abdominal strain that has kept her sidelined most of the year. On Sunday, she got a head start on 2010 by defeating Hungarian Aniko Kapros 6-2, 6-2 to win the $50,000 Lexus of Las Vegas Open.

"I didn't really start playing this year until Wimbledon," said Kulikova, who was the No. 3 seed at Red Rock Country Club and earned $7,315 for the victory, the fourth of her career. "This is a big confidence boost for me. I'm trying to get ready for Australia in January, and I hope this gives me some momentum."

The final was a gut check for both players. Kulikova not only had to worry about her abdomen, she was dealing with a strained lower back that had plagued her the entire week. Kapros has been battling shin splints since her win in the quarterfinals Friday.

At times, the match appeared to be played in slow motion as neither player was able to run down shots consistently. The trainer had to attend to both players between sets, and neither was close to her best physically.

"I tried my best, but to play here and win, you have to be 100 percent," said Kapros, who teamed with Agustina Lepore to defeat Kimberly Couts and Lindsay Lee-Waters 6-2, 7-5 in the doubles final.

Kulikova got the upper hand early, breaking Kapros' serve in the first game of the match. She quickly got up 5-0 before Kapros managed to get a break back. But Kapros was playing from behind all day, and given her physical state, there was little she could do.

"I lost confidence after that first game," Kapros said. "It was so windy, I couldn't get my (first) serve in. She puts so much pressure on you, it was very hard for me to beat her."

The winds were gusting through most of the match, but calmed down midway through the second set.

But by then, Kulikova once again had built a 4-2 lead after the two had traded breaks.

Kulikova was in so much pain, she couldn't even celebrate after Kapros' final return shot sailed over the baseline.

"I'm always trying to be focused from the first ball," Kulikova said of her fast start. "I wanted to put pressure on her. I knew she was hurting too."

For Kulikova, who came into the USTA Pro Circuit event ranked No. 152 in the world, Sunday's win will move her up.

She's headed to Troy, Ala., today for this week's USTA Pro Circuit event and hopes her back holds up to give her chance to build on the momentum at Red Rock.

"This was a great week for me," she said. "It's great to win anytime; but for me, having not played much this year and just starting my season, this is very big."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@ reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.