Seles Beats Huber In Straight Sets To Win Du Maurier Open Tourney

Tennis

Monica Seles’ impressions of the du Maurier Open have changed since she first won it in 1995.

“I have different feelings about it now,” Seles said Sunday in Toronto after beating Anke Huber of Germany 6-2, 6-4 for her third straight title. “Both feelings are great in their own way, but nothing compares to 1995.”

Sidelined from April 1993 to August 1995 after she was stabbed in the back by a man during a match in Hamburg, Seles made a triumphant return to the game at York University’s National Tennis Centre two years ago.

“You can’t replace 1995 ever again,” Seles said after becoming the first player to win the du Maurier three times in a row.

“There’s so many memories, I remember looking into the stands and seeing my family sitting there, the whole court, I didn’t think it could ever be the same. I still can’t believe it’s three in a row - it’s something I never expected.”

Pilot Pen International

Yevgeny Kafelnikov capped a solid and taxing week of tennis by outdueling Patrick Rafter in straight sets to win the Pilot Pen International tournament in New Haven, Conn., his second title in three months.

The top-seeded Kafelnikov beat No. 8 seed Rafter 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, his baseline style overcoming the net-crashing Australian for the third time in as many tries.

“It’s nice to finally win a title after so many long trips here,” said Kafelnikov, who has played at the Connecticut Tennis Center every year since 1992, reaching at least the semifinals three times.

In the doubles final, Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes, the fifth-seeded team from India, defeated Sebastien Lareau of Montreal and American Alex 0’Brien, the No. 3 seeds, 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 6-2.

RCA Championships

Ninth-seeded Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden overcame the rain to beat fifth-seeded Carlos Moya of Spain 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) in the finals of the RCA Championships in Indianapolis.

The team of Mikael Tillstrom of Sweden and Michael Tebbutt of Australia defeated Bjorkman and countryman Nicklas Kulti 6-3, 6-2 in the doubles finals.

Mentadent Champions

Bjorn Borg won his second Mentadent Champions tennis tournament by beating Andres Gomez 6-3, 7-5 in the final in Mashpee, Mass.