MONTREAL, Aug 19: Seventh seed Amelie Mauresmo received a boost ahead of this month’s U.S. Open when she upset American favourite Jennifer Capriati 6-4 6-1 in the Canadian Open final Sunday.
The Frenchwoman frustrated Capriati with an inspired mix of long shots and volleys, never letting her opponent impose her rhythm on the match.
Second seed Capriati showed increasing signs of frustration as the match, which lasted just over an hour, progressed on the windy Centre Court, contesting several line calls and two of Mauresmo’s six aces.
The victory capped off a successful week for Mauresmo, who also ended Capriati’s Wimbledon hopes in the quarter-finals last month, as she did not drop a single set on her way to the title.
Mauresmo got the first break in the last game of the first set, which she secured on her fourth set point with a volley smash.
Mauresmo continued to attack the American’s faltering serve in the second set and broke Capriati to go 3-1 up with a spectacular backhand stop volley.
The 23 year-old Frenchwoman did not lose another game, finishing the match on an ace.
She pocketed $182,000 for her win, while Capriati, who won here in 1991 at 15, received $92,000.
Despite the loss, Capriati said she was feeling confident going into the U.S. Open next Monday, where she hopes to break the Williams sisters domination.
INDIANAPOLIS (Indiana): Greg Rusedski, the British 14th seed, rallied from a set down against Spaniard Felix Mantilla to win the 800,000-dollar ATP tournament 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-4 Sunday.
It was the 12th career title for Canadian-born Rusedski and second this season after his victory in Auckland in January.
Rusedski scored his first win over Mantilla in three meetings following an impressive run of form here since dispatching Australian world number one Lleyton Hewitt in the third round and Germany’s Tommy Haas, the third seed, in the semi-finals.
Rusedski used his huge serve, producing 16 aces and 59 winners and is showing his best form of the season in time for the August 26 start of the US Open.
Rusedski lost the first set 8-6 in the tie-break, during which he threw his racket to the ground in protest at what he felt was a bad call.
But he recomposed himself to make decisive breaks of serve in the seventh game of each of the final sets staving off Mantilla who had the chance to break back in the final set, going 40-0 up in the eighth game.
Rusedski fought back with an overhead smash and two volleys and then clinched the game with an ace to go up 5-3 up.
Mantilla saved a match point on his own serve but Rusedski then served out to win the match, taking his 12th title with a down-the-line winner.
The big-hitting Rusedski lost in the finals here four year ago to Australian Patrick Rafter.
Rusedski feels his game is peaking after two seasons of work following foot and back problems.
WASHINGTON: American James Blake came from behind to win the Legg Mason Classic after defeating Thailand’s Paradorn Srichaphan 1-6 7-6 6-4 Sunday.
Buoyed by the cheering Thai fans, Srichaphan sailed through the first set, breaking Blake’s serve twice in 26 minutes and moving the American around the hard court.
In the sixth game of the second set, Blake broke Srichaphan’s serve but the 14th seeded Thai broke back three games later to eventually set up a tie break, which Blake won 7-5.
Ahead 15-40 in the fourth game of the third set, Srichaphan had three break points but was unable to convert any of them.
Then Blake squandered one break point in the next game but eventually achieved the defining break of the match when he hit a forehand down the line to pull ahead 3-2 in the third set.—Reuters/AFP