MONTE CARLO, Monaco – Gustavo Kuerten regained his title at
the Masters Series Monte Carlo, beating Morocco's Hicham Arazi 6-3,
6-2, 6-4 on Sunday in the season's first important clay-court
tournament.
|  | | Gustavo Kuerten overwhelmed Hicham Arazi in three sets Sunday. |
The second-seeded Brazilian ended a string of upsets by Arazi,
who was playing in his first final in a Masters Series event.
"He made me run to the right and to the left, and each time I
was overwhelmed," Arazi said. "He was better than me today."
Kuerten did poorly in two big tournaments before Monte Carlo,
exiting the Indian Wells Masters and the Ericsson Open in the third
round. But the two-time winner of the French Open dominated Arazi
with powerful groundstrokes and drop shots to win the $400,000
first prize.
"I liked to put pressure on him, more than he's used to, and be
aggressive when he's not used to it," Kuerten said.
Arazi retrieved the most difficult shots in the earlier rounds
but was unable to do so Sunday. In the third set, frustrated after
losing several points, Arazi tossed his racket in the air like a
twirler's baton.
Arazi "played unbelievably today," said Kuerten, who won in
Monte Carlo in 1999 but was eliminated last year in the first
round.
"It was a magical week," said Arazi, who was not seeded.
"When I arrived, I didn't think for one second that I would make
the final."
Kuerten ended last year as the world's top-ranked player. He is
expected to advance from 11th to second in the ATP Champions Race
after this victory.
The players exchanged breaks in the first set until Kuerten
broke to serve for the set at 5-3. The Brazilian saved a break
point with a service winner then, after another deuce, closed the
set with a crosscourt forehand.
Arazi lost serve in the second set's opening game and wasted two
opportunities to break back in the fourth, tripping and falling to
lose his first break point and then sending the ball wide.
Kuerten broke to lead 5-2 after stretching Arazi with his
forehand and backhand. He then closed the set with a service
winner.
In the third set, Arazi ended Kuerten's five-game winning streak
by holding service to trail 2-1. But the Moroccan had to fight for
every service point from then on while Kuerten streaked through his
next two service games.
Arazi saved Kuerten's first match point at 5-4 with a service
return that ripped down the line. Kuerten, however, ended the match
with an ace.
Arazi ousted third-seeded Magnus Norman and 14th-seeded and
reigning champion Cedric Pioline in straight sets in the second and
third rounds. He defeated eighth-seeded Tim Henman and ninth-seeded
Sebastien Grosjean in straight sets in the quarterfinals and
semifinals.
Arazi was ranked 77th in the Champions Race before Monte Carlo.
His only title came in his native Casablanca in 1997. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories |
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ALSO SEE
Sunday's results
Threatening Kuerten awaits new Wimbledon seeding system
Underdog Arazi's string of upsets takes him to Monte Carlo final
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