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AGENCIES
MUNICH, Oct 4: Chile's Marcelo Rios outlasted Andre Agassi over five sets to win the Grand Slam Cup and prize money of $ 1.3 million today.
Rios, the world number three, was made to work for just under three hours before winning 6-4, 2-6, 7-6, 5-7, 6-3 when Agassi double-faulted on the Chilean's second match point.
The American former world number one, who received a wild card for the tournament for the best performers in the year's four Grand Slams, appeared short of energy after yesterday's five-set semifinal thriller against Slovakia's Karol Kucera. Agassi won 7-6 (7-1), 6-7 (5-7), 2-6, 7-5, 6-0 in a match that lasted three hours and 40 minutes.
He won then after saving four match points but the effort appeared to exact a toll and he had to settle for the runner-up prize of $ 650,000.
Rios, the world number three who qualified thanks to his final appearance at the Australian Open, received treatment for back pain after losing his serve to go 3-2 down in the first set.
He then broke Agassi tolevel the set, which he eventually won in 36 minutes on a forehand pass.
Agassi fought back in the second set, breaking his opponent straightaway and again in the seventh game, when Rios hit a backand long. Both players held serve in a tense third set and a tie break was needed, which Rios took 7-1.
The fourth set was also close and Rios dropped serve at the worst possible moment by netting a backhand.
The telling break in the decisive set came in the fifth game, in which Agassi hit a backhand wide to give Rios a 3-2 lead.
Moya, Kuerten in final
PALMA DE MALLORCA, (BALEARIC ISLANDS): Carlos Moya of Spain and eighth-seeded Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil today advanced to the final of the $ 475,000 Mallorca Open.
The fifth-ranked Moya, a local hero on this Mediterranean Spanish island, sailed through his semifinal match against fellow Spaniard Fernando Vicente 6-1, 6-2.
Siemerink wins
TOULOUSE: Second-seeded Dutchman Jan Siemerink beat top-seeded Greg Rusedski of Britain 6-4, 6-4 todayin the final of the $ 400,000 ATP Tour event here.
Siemerink took just 62 minutes to down Rusedski as he collected the fourth title of his career and his second this year.
The 28-year-old Dutchman, ranked 20th in the world, won in Rotterdam in March.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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