Muster Gains Sweet Revenge Eight Years After Injury Default, Austrian Star Wins Lipton Title

Thomas Muster felt he had justice on his side against Sergi Bruguera in Sunday’s final at the Lipton Championships.

Justice prevailed.

Muster capped his comeback from a knee injury at Lipton eight years ago, withstanding 106-degree heat to beat Bruguera 7-6 (8-6), 6-3, 6-1.

Muster last reached the Lipton final in 1989, when he was unable to play because of an accident with a drunk driver shortly after his victory in the semifinals. He severed two ligaments in his left knee, and the injury almost ended his career.

“This is very emotional,” Muster told the crowd. “After what happened eight years ago, I felt today was a great day of justice for me.”

By winning, the Austrian earned $360,000 and validated his contention that he’s more than a clay-court specialist. The title was his third on hardcourts, compared to 40 on clay, including the 1995 French Open.

“After the French Open, this is probably the biggest victory of my career,” Muster said.

In the women’s doubles final, Natasha Zvereva and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario beat Sabine Appelmans and Miriam Oremans 6-2, 6-3.

Following his 1989 accident, Muster collected $700,000 in a lawsuit settlement. But the injury robbed his knee of flexibility and left him susceptible to the rigors of a full hardcourt schedule.

“I always felt like I play well on this stuff,” he said. “If I could play all year on it, I would play just on hardcourts and maybe I’d be a hardcourt specialist. They’d say, ‘This guy can’t play on clay.’

“Obviously, the only thing left is, ‘He can’t play on grass.’ Since I have a grass court in my backyard, I’m going to work on that.”

The second-ranked Muster becomes the oldest Lipton champion at age 29. His only other title in the United States came on a carpet surface at Boston in 1988.