SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS

It's been eight years since Federer needed five tournaments to get a shot at his first trophy of season.

"It's not the way you want to win a tournament, but that's just the way it goes sometime", Federer said. "It's great to win a title again and to straightaway win my first clay court tournament of the season gives me great confidence going into Monte Carlo."

Davydenko, who dropped to 0-12 against Federer, did not elaborate on his injury.

"I have a little injury and I can't finish the match", Davydenko told the court-side crowd. "I'm sorry guys."

In the last two weeks, Davydenko won the Sony Ericsson Open and led Russia to a Davis Cup win over the Czech Republic.

Federer evened his record in clay court finals to 7-7 on a windy day. Overall, he's won 54 of the 71 finals he's played.

On the women's side, Maria Kirilenko defeated Iveta Benesova 6-4, 6-2 for her third career title.

The second-seeded Russian broke Benesova's serve five times, helped by the Czech's five double-faults. It was the third straight tournament that Benesova lost in the final.

With Kirilenko leading 5-4, Benesova hit a shot wide to set up a first set point before rain forced an interruption. After the 41-minute delay, Benesova, who sits 100 spots below Kirilenko in the rankings, netted from a long rally to hand the 32nd-ranked Russian the first set.

Kirilenko broke to love for a 2-0 lead in the second set. Kirilenko had won 10 straight points before the 25-year-old Benesova smacked a forehand inside the line to start the third game.

Kirilenko won with her last break in the eighth game when Benesova returned the ball into the net.

 BREAKING STORIES

Evert, Norman enjoy Bahamas wedding

American Olympic tennis team named

Wimbledon site of anti-gambling operations

Old sneakers make for cushy tennis courts

Nadal loses on clay for only 2nd time in 3 years

Nadal suffers rare loss on clay at Rome Masters

US loses to defending champ Russia in semifinal at Fed Cup ¤

Nadal defeats Federer on clay in Monte Carlo

Nadal, Federer reach Monte Carlo final

Federer wins first title of season at Estoril Open

Federer wins first title of season at Estoril Open

S.Williams defeats Sharapova in QFinals in Charleston

ESPN, Wimbledon reach coverage agreement

Davydenko beats Minar in second round at Estoril Open

Sharapova Wins on Clay

Russia, Czechs tied 1-1 at Davis Cup

Roddick Gives US 1-0 Lead

Davydenko beats Nadal in Miami final

Serena Williams wins Ericsson Open

Serena Williams Wins Key Biscayne Title