HAMBURG, May 15: World number one Roger Federer avenged himself upon wonder-kid Richard Gasquet quicker than he can have ever expected on Sunday when he beat the 18-year-old Frenchman in the final of the Hamburg Masters Series.

It was Federer’s shock loss to Gasquet in last month’s Masters Series in Monte Carlo that triggered a three-week absence from the tour with inflamed feet.

His 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) success here also earned him his 41st win in 43 matches since last year’s US Open, extended his all-time record of consecutive winning finals to 19, and retained his Hamburg title.

Gasquet seemed more nervous than usual both before and during the first set of his biggest final so far.

TITLE FOR MAURESMO

ROME: Amelie of Mauresmo of France retained her Rome Masters title on Sunday hitting back from a set and a break down to defeat a resurgent Patty Schnyder of Switzerland.

Mauresmo won 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in just under two hours at a packed Foro Italico and once again established her credentials as one of the favourites for the French Open title starting in Paris in a week’s time.

But the lapses of concentration that have doomed her efforts at Roland Garros in the past were once again in evidence as she struggled to subdue her opponent, a subtle and experienced clay-court player.

The eighth-seeded Basel player opened confidently and broke second seed Mauresmo’s serve in the third game with a powerful forehand winner from inside the baseline.

That sent the alarm bells ringing in the French camp as Mauresmo, who had breezed into the final with a string of straight-set wins, looked out of sorts and unsure how to handle the Swiss player’s all-court game.

Schnyder broke again in the seventh game to lead 5-2 and then staved off three break points on her own serve before hammering down an ace to win the set in 29 minutes.—AFP