Russia's Dinara Safina captured her first WTA Tour title in nearly two years on Sunday with victory at the Open Gaz de France tennis tournament.

The sister of ATP Tour star Marat Safin saw off second-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France 6-4 2-6 6-3.

Safina, who beat another Frenchwoman - 17-year-old Tatiana Golovin - in the semi-finals, claimed her third career title and first since Palermo in July 2003.

She also beat a player ranked in the top five for the first time in her career.

"You can't imagine how happy I am," Safina said. "I can't find words to explain how I feel. I played well, took my chances and beat a top-five player. It's just too much in one day."

Safina avenged a 2-6 6-1 6-0 loss to Mauresmo in the second round of the Australian Open last month.

"The conditions were totally different here compared to Melbourne," she said. "It was really hot over there and it was hard to move and stay focused."

"I did not play at my best today," Mauresmo added. "I was not aggressive enough and my shots weren't working for me. Dinara took advantage of that. I have seen that she has improved a lot, especially mentally."

Appearing in the Open Gaz de France final for the fourth time, Mauresmo was denied a 16th career title and a second victory here. She won the tournament in 2001 and also lost in the final in 1999 and 2003 to American Serena Williams.

Safina benefited from the withdrawal of Williams, the top seed, and third-seeded Maria Sharapova of Russia earlier in the week due to illnesses.