News & Notes
Nadal Topples Agassi to Earn His First Hard-Court Title
Rafael Nadal celebrates winning the Montreal Masters against Andre Agassi on Sunday.
(Shaun Best - Reuters)
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Neither Andre Agassi nor a quick hard court could stop Rafael Nadal .
The 19-year-old Spaniard won on a hard court for the first time, beating the 35-year-old Agassi, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, in the Rogers Cup final yesterday in Montreal.
The French Open champ's left-handed shotmaking got the better of Agassi, who was missing the lines with his winners in a baseline battle interrupted 58 minutes after the first set by rain.
It was the top-seed's third victory in a row and his ATP-tour-leading ninth tournament win of the year. His eight previous wins, including the French Open, were on slower clay courts.
"I don't want to think about it because I always want to stay the same," Nadal said of his breakthrough season. "I only want to think about next week."
It was the first meeting between Nadal, considered the sport's next superstar, and Agassi, who has won 60 tournaments, including eight grand slams and three wins in the Canadian event, in his 19-year career.
"It's easy to see why he's won so many matches," said Agassi. "He's just a great mover on the court and he gets good power from stretched positions, so you're never sure if you have control of a point."
Later yesterday, Agassi withdrew from the Masters Series Cincinnati, which begins today. . . .
Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia upset top-seeded Anastasia Myskina , 7-5, 6-2, to claim her second WTA title of the year at the Nordic Light Open.
Myskina saved three match points in the final game before hitting a baseline forehand into the net to give Srebotnik the victory at Stockholm's Olympic Stadium. . . .
Kim Clijsters won her WTA Tour-leading fifth title of the year, defeating Daniela Hantuchova , 6-4, 6-1, in the JPMorgan Chase Open final in Carson, Calif.
