Tennis: Agassi edged out by Enqvist
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THOMAS ENQVIST slowed down Andre Agassi's surge up the world rankings by coming from behind to beat the American in three sets to win the BMW Open title in Munich yesterday.
Enqvist, a Swede who is also on a comeback after overcoming a series of nagging injuries, won 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 in a close match that could have gone Agassi's way as well. "I've never played so well on clay before," Enqvist said.
Agassi was seeking his first tournament victory on European red clay in 10 years and his third title of the year. "We both played very well during the whole match," Agassi said. "I was improving all the time during the week and it was a perfect preparation for the French Open.
"It's disappointing not to win but all in all, it was a good week. I am not too far from my best. I am very pleased to have been here this week," Agassi said.
Agassi will move one place to No 19 in the rankings while Engoes to No 18. At one stage last year the former world No 1 had dropped as low as No 141 after a disastrous run of form.
Agassi, 28, will now return home to Las Vegas and still has not decided whether he will play the Italian Open, which starts a week today.
Top-ranked Martina Hingis struggled to close out the match before beating Jana Novotna 6-3, 7-5 yesterday in Hamburg for her first title on European red clay. Hingis needed four match points to finally beat the second-seeded Novotna in a match marked by sloppy play by both players.
It was the third title of the year for the 17-year-old Swiss, who is 12 years younger than her opponent. Neither player was at her best. Novotna strayed from her usual serve-and-volley game, staying behind a lot and using a slice backhand in an attempt to unsettle Hingis.
Hingis served poorly, but Novotna could not capitalise, wasting three break points in the last game and Hingis finally won in 98 minutes.
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