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When it came to the kill, Elena Dementieva found it hard to strike the fatal blow. Familiarity with her opponent had most definitely not bred contempt.
"It was always going to be hard," said Dementieva of playing a final against her fellow Russian Elena Vesnina.
"We came here on the same flight and we have practised all week together and played doubles. I was maybe a little nervous in the middle of the first set and feeling a little tired but I just managed to get into the game.
"I think it was a great week," said Dementieva. "I felt like I improved a lot and that I played some good tennis in the semifinal and in the final."
Whether victory in Auckland has set Dementieva up to fulfil her career goal of winning a Grand Slam, she couldn't say.
She is feeling fit and strong but all she could say about her Australian Open prospects were: "You never know. I hope so."
Certainly the character she showed to weather a nasty storm at 3-1 down in the final will have boosted her confidence. When you have been on the tour for 10 years, you learn a little bit about the need to stay composed.
The 27-year-old was at her most focused and determined when she was under pressure, unlike Vesnina who, playing in her first final, couldn't quite deliver when she had to.
"I was upset about that," said the world No 76. "At 3-1 down, Elena started to play a bit better. But on my serve ... I don't know what happened. Everything changed after that.
"It is hard to play her when she hits the ball so hard. I felt I was moving pretty well, better than I did yesterday, but I wasn't confident about the last shot. I was making the wrong decisions.
"Maybe I was a little tired and maybe I was a little nervous, too."
The experience will hold Vesnina in good stead, though, and Dementieva believes her fellow Russian will become more of a feature on the WTA Tour.
"She should be ranked higher than she is," Dementieva said of Vesnina. "She is playing a lot higher than her ranking."
There was no commitment from either player about a return to Auckland next year. Vesnina said they had enjoyed the city and the tournament.
Dementieva, though, doesn't have a strong record of returning to defend her titles and with such a high world ranking, she'll hardly be spoiled for choice.
