The 11th-seeded Johansson secured the first hardcourt title of his career despite straining a right groin muscle late in the second set and getting treatment after the first game of the third.

Johansson is the fourth Swede to win a title in 1999 after Magnus Norman, Magnus Gustafsson and Thomas Enqvist.

Johansson collected a cheque for $361,000 and 370 ranking points while Kafelnikov won $190,000.

Martina whips Venus

CARLSBAD: Martina Hingis celebrated her return to the world No 1 spot by whipping Venus Williams 6-4 6-0 yesterday to win the $520,000 TIG Classic Tennis Tournament.

The second-seeded Hingis took the final nine games of the 61-minute match from the fourth-seeded American.

Hingis had regained the world No 1 spot on Saturday by crushing seventh-seededAmanda Coetzer after Williams surprised defending champion Lindsay Davenport in the first semi-final. However, the Swiss 18-year-old will not officially return to the top spot until the WTA releases the rankings today.

Hingis collected her fifth title of the year and the $80,000 winner's prize, while Williams received $40,000 in her second runner-up finish in as many weeks. She lost to Davenport in the Bank of the West Classic final at Stanford last week.