Stanford, CA (AHN) - The women's side of the upcoming U.S. Open just got a little more interesting with quickly-improving Anna Chakvetadze adding her name to the list of legitimate contenders for the 2007 championship.

Chakvetadze won her second straight tournament Sunday, pounding India's Sania Mirza 6-3, 6-2 to win the Bank of the West Classic.

"I'm pleased with the way I played and happy I won," Chakvetadze told AP. "I didn't serve that well the whole week but I played well. I had to concentrate more on every point."

The Russian, now ranked No. 6 in the world in the latest Sony Ericsson WTA Tour rankings, improved to 6-0 in tournament finals.

"It means a lot," said the tournament's top seed. "It means I know I can do it and that I have to work harder to get (to the top five) and be more consistent."

Mirza, who will move back to her career-high ranking of No. 31, was not perturbed by the loss and actually seemed excited about the remainder of the season following her fine performance in the tournament.

"I've always said I could be top 20 and I believe in that," she said. "I thought maybe by the end of next season, but who knows? Maybe it will happen this year. I believe in setting realistic, practical goals."

Both players should have been exhausted for the championship match after playing three sets in winning their respective semifinal matches Saturday before following that up by playing doubles.

Chakvetadze has been on fire recently, winning her last nine matches and 20 of her last 22 overall.

The only losses she has suffered since the beginning of May have been in Grand Slams - the French Open and Wimbledon.

In the second game of the first set, Chakvetadze had a comical moment as her long ponytail got caught in her racket, giving Mirza a point.

"I used to have even longer hair than I have now and that has never happened," she said.

Again, Mirza sounded like she would use her success at the tournament for a springboard to bigger and better things.

"I learned I can play good tennis the whole week," said Mirza, who had a large contingent of family and friends at the tournament. "Physically I couldn't take it like she can."