18 January 2004	Sunday	25 Ziqa'ad 1424

SYDNEY, Jan 17: Spain's Carlos Moya was taken to hospital after he injured his ankle during Saturday's final of the Sydney International with Lleyton Hewitt, possibly ruining his hopes of playing in next week's Australian Open.

Moya's retirement from the final, trailing 4-3 in the first set, handed Hewitt the singles crown while fellow Australian Todd Woodbridge landed a record 79th men's doubles title.

Moya, the former world number one, collapsed in agony after twisting his right ankle while chasing down a ball from Hewitt.

He made a vain attempt to play on after receiving treatment but quit after just four more points, handing Hewitt the title.

"I wanted to try but I couldn't even walk," Moya said before being taken to hospital for x-rays. "I just hope it's not going to be anything really bad."

Hewitt, who won in Sydney in 2000 and 2001, said the final had the promise of being a great match until Moya's injury.

"I felt like it was a very high standard match and it was disappointing for both players that it had to end that way," Hewitt said.

Hewitt is undefeated in eight matches this year and said he had had an ideal preparation for the Australian Open.

"It could be perfect in one way that I've gone out there and I've had to prepare and warm up and do everything in match conditions but I haven't actually had to use that full energy that you normally would," he said.

"At the moment I'm executing as well as I could hope going into the first grand slam."

Woodbridge teamed up with Swede Jonas Bjorkman to beat the American brothers Mike and Bob Bryan 7-6 7-5 in the men's double final.

The Australian had equalled Dutchman Tom Okker's record of 78 titles when he and Bjorkman won last year's Stockholm Open.

Justine Henin-Hardenne won the women's singles title with a 6-4 6-4 win over former Sydney champion Amelie Mauresmo who had booked her place in the final by beating Italy's Francesca Schiavone in a delayed semi-final earlier in the day.

The Belgian world number one broke Mauresmo's service once in each set to win her 15th career title and justify her position as favourite to win the women's title at the Australian Open.

Results

Men's singles, final

Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) bt Carlos Moya (Spain) 4-3 retired

Women's singles, semifinals

Amelie Mauresmo (France) bt Francesca Schiavone (Italy) 6-3 7-6 (7-2)

Men's doubles, final

Todd Woodbridge (Australia)/Jonas Bjorkman (Sweden) bt Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (U.S.) 7-6 (7-3) 7-5

crown for Suarez

SYDNEY: Argentina's Paola Suarez saved five match points before recovering to beat Silvia Farina Elia of Italy 3-6 6-4 7-6 in the final of the Canberra Classic women's tennis tournament on Saturday.

Farina Elia thought she had won the title when Suarez failed to return one of her shots in the 12th game of the deciding third set but the Argentine insisted the ball had sailed over the baseline and the chair umpire agreed.

A furious Farina Elia told a news conference that she thought the umpire had made an error but said Suraez had deserved her win.

"To overrule the match point, the ball must be very, very out but the call was very late," the Italian said.

Result: Paola Suarez (Argentina) bt Silvia Farina Elia (Italy) 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-5).-Reuters