HELSINKI, Finland (Ticker) -- Teenage qualifier Svetlana Kuznetsova won her first career WTA Tour title Sunday at the inaugural Nordea Nordic Light Open.

Kuznetsova defeated Czech Denisa Chladkova, 0-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), in the final of the $140,000 claycourt event. Playing in only her ninth tournament on the top circuit, she entered this event ranked 123rd in the world, but won eight straight matches to take home $22,000.

The 17-year-old Russian was still playing junior events this season, reaching the semifinals of the French Open and the quarterfinals in Australia. She won the junior doubles crown at last year's U.S. Open and captured the 2001 Banana Bowl.

Previously, Kuznetsova's best results on the WTA Tour came last month when she reached the quarterfinals at Warsaw and the semifinals at Casablanca. This week, the St. Petersburg native came through qualifying to defeat oust third seed Patty Schnyder in the quarterfinals and No. 5 Martina Sucha in the semifinals.

Chladkova, who ousted top-seeded Italian Silvia Farina Elia in the second round, was looking for her first career title. The 23-year-old had not won two matches in a row since mid-May before this week.

Most of the top players are in the United States playing hardcourts in order to tuneup for the U.S. Open.