February 19, 2008	Tuesday	Safar 11, 1429

MIAMI, Feb 18: Teenager Kei Nishikori became the first Japanese player to win an ATP event for nearly 16 years when he shocked top seed James Blake in the Delray Beach International final on Sunday.

The 18-year-old qualifier beat the American ranked more than 200 places above him 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

After dropping the first set, the free-swinging Nishikori found his range on his service and groundstrokes, punishing Blake with a barrage of backhand winners.

Nishikori saved three break points in his first service game of the third set, then immediately broke Blake with a clean down-the-line backhand return that the American could not retrieve.

The young Japanese showed no nerves in the latter stages, serving out the match to love to claim the first title of his career.

Nishikori came into the tournament ranked 244th in the world while Blake was 12th.

Nishikori’s nerves showed on Blake’s serve as the American took a firm grip on the opening set.

But a day after making a comeback from one set down and saving four match points against Sam Querrey in the semi-finals, Nishikori rallied once again.

He held serve to start the second set with a sharply angled drop volley, broke Blake in the next game, then took a 3-0 lead by spinning a second serve ace past the frustrated American.

Blake appeared poised to reclaim the momentum in the match when he held to start the third set and reached 15-40 on Nishikori’s serve.

But Nishikori played like a seasoned veteran, following an inside-out forehand winner with a cross-court backhand winner to save the break points.

After saving another break point, Nishikori immediately broke Blake with a clean down-the-line backhand return.

The Japanese appeared immune to any pressure in the latter stages, serving out the match at love.

Shuzo Matsuoka was the last Japanese to win an ATP event when he triumphed in Seoul in April 1992.

ALMAGRO WINS

RIO DE JANEIRO: Spain’s Nicolas Almagro beat top-seeded compatriot Carlos Moya 7-6, 3-6, 7-5 to grab the Brazil Open title on Sunday.

The 22-year-old Almagro used his aggressive style and superior fitness to wear down the experienced Moya and claim his third ATP title.

Almagro, 31st in the world rankings and seeded second, dropped just one set on his way to the final and was bursting with energy despite the sapping heat.

HENIN DOWNS KNAPP

ANTWERP (Belgium): Belgian world number one Justine Henin won the Antwerp Diamond Games with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over unseeded Italian Karin Knapp on Sunday.

Henin broke Knapp to race to a 5-2 lead in the first set before the Italian broke back. Knapp dropped her serve in the next game to give Henin the set.

The Belgian broke again in the second set and although Knapp had a chance to break back in the seventh game her forehand was long. Henin held serve to win.

MURRAY TRIUMPHS

MARSEILLE (France): British number one Andy Murray clinched his second title of the year when he overwhelmed Croatia’s Mario Ancic 6-3, 6-4 in the Marseille Open final on Sunday.

World number 11 Murray, who won the Qatar Open last month, served and returned superbly to seal his fifth career title after an hour and 44 minutes of high quality tennis.—Reuters