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| November 15, 2005 | Tuesday | Shawwal 12, 1426 |
Mauresmo fights back to grab career’s biggest title
LOS ANGELES, Nov 14: Amelie Mauresmo rallied from a set down to outlast compatriot Mary Pierce 5-7 7-6 6-4 in the WTA Championships final on Sunday, making her the first Frenchwoman to win the season-ending tournament. In a compelling contest that spanned three hours and six minutes, the tireless Mauresmo’s brilliant defence and athleticism carried her to the biggest title of her career in her second appearance in the final of the eight-woman event.
Considered one of the tour’s most talented players never to have won a grand slam title, the 26-year-old fourth seed proved she had the credentials to triumph at the highest level by capping a week of solid tennis with a gritty victory in the final.
The Fed Cup team mates traded early breaks in the first set before the 30-year-old Pierce gained a vital 6-5 lead when Mauresmo erred on a forehand.
Piece was able to serve out the set when Mauresmo missed another forehand.
Undaunted by the loss of the opener, Mauresmo broke early in the second set to build a 3-1 advantage but paid for another forehand error three games later to allow Pierce to pull back to 4-3.
Mauresmo regained her composure in the tiebreaker as Pierce struggled with her focus and was able to secure the set by a 7-3 margin with a stunning backhand crosscourt winner.
The two traded early breaks in the deciding set, but it was clear that Mauresmo was getting the better of their longer rallies.
When the tiring Pierce missed an easy forehand to hand her opponent a crucial break in the ninth game, Mauresmo appeared well set to serve out the contest.
However, Mauresmo quickly fell to 0-40 before Pierce collapsed completely, committing six straight unforced errors to hand her opponent the victory.
Mauresmo then fell to her knees, lifted her arms to the sky and went up into the stands to hug her coach, Loic Courteau.
With the victory, Mauresmo will move up a spot to number three in the rankings when they are released on Monday.
Pierce will end her productive year ranked number five.
HONOUR FOR FEDERER
SHANGHAI: Roger Federer was crowned the winner of tennis’ 2005 ATP Champions Race here on Monday after another superlative season in which he has won 11 singles titles including two Grand Slams.
Federer, uncatchable in the standings with 1,245 points, was given the trophy on the sidelines of the season-ending Masters Cup tournament.
His nearest rival, Spain’s Rafael Nadal, has 953 points with a possible 150 points on offer here.
Federer completed back-to-back wins of Wimbledon and the US Open this year, winning 78 matches for the loss of just three and amassing $5,317,018 in prize money.—Agencies
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