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Schuettler gets third time lucky to win Japan Open
Tokyo, Oct 06: Top seed Rainer Schuettler of Germany posted his first title in two years when he outclassed Sebastien Grosjean of France to win the men`s singles at the Japan Open tennis tournament yesterday.
Tokyo, Oct 06: Top seed Rainer Schuettler of Germany posted his first title in two years when he outclassed Sebastien Grosjean of France to win the men's singles at the
Japan Open tennis tournament yesterday.
In the women's event, Russian pin-up Maria Sharapova captured her first WTA title when she beat Aniko Kapros of Hungary 2-6 6-2 7-6 (7/5) adding to her first doubles title with Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn Saturday.
Schuettler, the Australian Open finalist, tamed Grosjean's occasional serve-and-volley game with a series of baseline winners to score a 7-6 (7/5) 6-2 victory.
It was third time lucky for the German after two runners-up spots this year, and his first victory over Grosjean in three attempts at major tournaments.
"It was great. I enjoyed playing in the final and it was my first tournament victory this year, so i really enjoyed it. It was fun to play in Tokyo," said Shuettler.
Grosjean got off to a flying start by breaking Shuettler in the opening game. However, it would be his last break of the match. The Frenchman gifted his opponent the first set with three consecutive mistakes on his favoured forehand at the end of the tie-breaker.
Shuettler then went a break up in the opening game of the second set and never looked back to close out the set 6-2.
"In the first set definitely to win the tie-breaker was the biggest step and then I played better in the second set, and he had more pressure. He had to go for the shots so he missed a couple of balls."
The win takes Schuettler's tally to three titles after victories at Shanghai in September 2001 and Doha in 1999.
Bureau Report
In the women's event, Russian pin-up Maria Sharapova captured her first WTA title when she beat Aniko Kapros of Hungary 2-6 6-2 7-6 (7/5) adding to her first doubles title with Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn Saturday.
Schuettler, the Australian Open finalist, tamed Grosjean's occasional serve-and-volley game with a series of baseline winners to score a 7-6 (7/5) 6-2 victory.
It was third time lucky for the German after two runners-up spots this year, and his first victory over Grosjean in three attempts at major tournaments.
"It was great. I enjoyed playing in the final and it was my first tournament victory this year, so i really enjoyed it. It was fun to play in Tokyo," said Shuettler.
Grosjean got off to a flying start by breaking Shuettler in the opening game. However, it would be his last break of the match. The Frenchman gifted his opponent the first set with three consecutive mistakes on his favoured forehand at the end of the tie-breaker.
Shuettler then went a break up in the opening game of the second set and never looked back to close out the set 6-2.
"In the first set definitely to win the tie-breaker was the biggest step and then I played better in the second set, and he had more pressure. He had to go for the shots so he missed a couple of balls."
The win takes Schuettler's tally to three titles after victories at Shanghai in September 2001 and Doha in 1999.
Bureau Report