Paes, in control most of the way, needed only 72 minutes to beat Godwin and become the first Indian to win the tournament since Vijay Amritraj in 1984. He pocketed $ 39,000 for his week's work on the grass courts of Newport Casino. "It was nice to win for my country and also nice to win for me," said Paes.

Godwin, 23, playing his first career final, suffered from inconsistencies with his net game and some untimely double faults.

Paes, who hadn't lost his service in this tournament since the first round, was broken in the third game to give Godwin his only lead of the day at 2-1.

But Paes broke back when he answered a Godwin overhead with a return winner down the line.

Paes got his clinching break in the sixth game of the first set for a 4-2 lead and he used that opening to ride out the set.

The players exchanged breaksin the first two games of the second set before Paes went on top for good after the South African netted an easy overhead.

Godwin's errors at the net continued as he also dropped his service in the fifth game and fell behind 4-1.