Tamarine a repeat champion

Tamarine Tanasugarn defended her title in the U$220,000 Ordina Open yesterday, outclassing Belgian teenager Yanina Wickmayer 6-3, 7-5.

The 32-year-old, ranked 47 in the world, had little trouble with the 19-year-old Belgian, who is ranked 72, as she played a virtually error free game from the back of the court.

It was Tamarine's third career WTA tournament victory

"It is true it is a tournament that is a success for me," said Tamarine, who on Friday had knocked out world No 1 Dinara Safina. It was her first victory over a World No 1 in her long career.

"It is unbelievable what has happened this week, yet again!" added Tamarine, who added this title to the ones she won here last year and Hyderabad in 2003.

Wickmayer, who has won just one of three of the WTA finals she has contested, conceded that she had been second best.

"Tamarine deserved this victory today [Saturday]. She was too solid," said Wickmayer.

The superstitious Tamarine wore an orange hat in the final, a routine she had picked up on the way to title-triumph a year ago.

 "It still works. I think it's my lucky colour," said the country's ace.

 "Wickmayer made me run a lot in the end," the champion said. "I feel like home here. I have to thank the physio to make my [injured right] arm work today. Thanks mom and dad for wishing me luck on the phone," added Tamarine who picked up the winner's cheque of US$37,000.

The victory, indeed, was a sweet revenge for Tamarine, who lost to Wickmayer 6-3 3-0 (retired) in Surbiton last year. It was her ninth appearance in the finals on the WTA tour.

Tamarine, who became the first player to defend the crown in the event, was moved when a special song tribute was sung live in her honour during the award presentation ceremony, depicting her matches from round one.

In a battle between wits and power, Tamarine relied on her shots to tackle a heavy-hitting Belgian. After trading breaks for three all in the first set, Wickmayer tried to hit harder and harder only to dig her own grave as she missed two successive shots to give Tamarine a break up at 4-3.

The Thai comfortably held for 5-3 and managed another break to take the first set after her rival hit a forehand wide.

A brief bout of nerves cost Tammy the opening service game which saw her trail 2-0 in the second. The Belgian launched into a series of attacking shots and had several chances to break for 3-0 but the gutsy Thai saved them all to win the crucial third game.

Gaining her momentum back, Tamarine broke the erratic Wickmayer to level at 2-2 and held comfortably to lead for the first time in the second set at 3-2.

Game went with serves in a thrilling fashion until Tamarine successfully held to lead 6-5. It was at this critical moment that experience began to tell. The veteran kept the ball in play but the inexperienced teenager did not. Wickmayer, who produced a brave drop shot to save the first match point, netted a backhand to eventually surrender.

German qualifier Benjamin Becker beat Dutch wild card Raemon Sluiter 7-5 6-3 to win his first ATP title at the Ordina Open.

Meanwhile, Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki, the sixth seed, won the women's Eastbourne international yesterday with a 7-6 (7/5) 7-5 win over Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano.