This erratic but hugely talented player seems to have finally come of age. The Belgian, who had made it a habit of sorts to lose focus immediately after taking out a higher-ranked opponent, says he’s finally matured as player.

“Some players mature quickly. But, I’m glad I’m finally getting to my potential. In the past I’ve beaten top-20 players, and then taken it easy. So that way I’ve matured. I have a good coach (David Felgate) now and I’ve been training very hard in the off-season. The combination of both things is working for me,” said the World No 37 who created history at the ATP event here becoming the only player to win both singles and doubles titles in the same year.

Malisse will leave Chennai a very rich and satisfied man after the dream start to the new season. The third seed collected the second ATP singles title of his career and $ 65,850 as prize money with a comfortable 6-1, 6-3 victory over Austrian Stefan Koubek. The Belgian later walked on the Centre Court with countryman Dick Norman to lift the doubles crown and pocketed a cool cheque of $20,250 after edging past the Spaniard duo of Rafael Nadal and Bartolome Salva-Vidal in two tie-breaks.

If the singles final didn’t provide good match practice for Malisse, the doubles final was a closely-fought contest. And, it was precisely the reason — to get match practice ahead of the long season — that the Belgians decided to team up here.

... contd.