Mark Philippoussis beat eighth-seeded Justin Gimelstob 6-3, 7-5 in the Hall of Fame Championships final on Sunday for his first ATP title in three years.
Philippoussis, ranked No. 214 in the world with a wild-card entry, didn't drop his serve in the entire tournament, showing some of the form that had him ranked No. 9 two years ago. It was his first title since winning 2003 Shanghai.
"It feels great. It feels like 20 years," the 29-year-old Australian said after winning his 11th career title. He wasn't broken in 54 service games in the tournament, and ousted four seeded players.
PHOTO: AP
Philippoussis dropped out of the top 100 the last two years because of injuries.
"I've always said the No. 1 thing is your health," he said. "If you feel great you start off the day great. I'm enjoying my tennis."
Philippoussis, a 2003 Wimbledon finalist, won 87 percent of his first-serve points for the second straight day. He had 15 aces after getting 16 in Saturday's semi-final win.
PHOTO: AFP
"I've been working extremely hard and this is when it pays off," Philippoussis said. "I felt like I had good rhythm on my serve. I just felt good the whole week."
Philippoussis broke Gimelstob in the second game of the match to go up 2-0. He closed out the first set with three straight aces.
In the second set, Gimelstob rallied to go up 4-3, but Philippoussis broke in the 11th game for a 6-5 edge. He then had aces on the first two points of the final game before Gimelstob hit a forehand volley wide and a backhand into the net.
"It's good for tennis to have him back," Gimelstob said. "On grass courts he's one of the best players in the world."
Gimelstob was appearing in his first ATP final.
France's Richard Gasquet defeated Spain's Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-3 in the Swiss Open final on Sunday for his second title in three tournaments.
Seventh-seeded Gasquet couldn't break sixth-seeded Lopez until 3-2 in the third set, then broke him twice in the last set.
"He has a great serve, one of the best in the world," Gasquet said. "I had to wait for it."
Lopez hit 24 aces to Gasquet's seven.
Gasquet's third career title and first on clay followed his successful defense of his Nottingham grass crown before Wimbledon. He lost to Roger Federer in the first round at Wimbledon.
"I have no injuries so I can play a lot," Gasquet said. "I played perfect here, it's been a really great week for me."
Lopez lost his third final in four tries. His only previous ATP title was at 2004 Vienna.
Belgium will be favorites to win the Fed Cup for the second time after reaching their second final on Sunday with a 4-1 victory over a weakened US team.
The Belgians, winners in 2001, will be at home against Italy who beat Spain to reach their first final on September 16/17.
The Belgians were too strong even with only one of their two players in the world's top three, Kim Clijsters, who won both her singles to secure the victory after only three of the five rubbers.
Belgian captain Carl Maes said he hoped neither side would be hit by injuries in the final, due exactly a week after the US Open.
"You want the best players in the final, so let's hope our players are fit and that theirs are too," Maes said.
He hopes to count on French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne, ranked third one place below Clijsters, who pulled out of the semi-final through exhaustion. The pair both took part in Belgium's win over Russia in the 2001 final in Madrid.
The US were without both Williams sisters and Lindsay Davenport, all nursing injuries.
Italy won 3-1 in Zaragoza against the Spanish, who lifted the cup five times between 1991 and 1998. With the tie already settled, the doubles was canceled because of the extreme heat.
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