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Seles continues her Canadian love affair

The Monica Seles legend, as it pertains to the Canadian Open, went into its fourth reprint as the former world number one overpowered third seed Arantxa Sanchez Vicario to take her fourth consecutive title at the venue.

In a game that reprised this year's French Open final, Seles posted a 6-3 6-2 win over her conqueror at Roland Garros, taking one hour and 17 minutes to earn her first title of the year.

The last time Seles won a title was Tokyo, in September, 1997.

It was in Canada that she signalled her comeback after the stabbing injury, entering the event in 1995 and promptly taking the title. "I like it here and I feel more relaxed," Seles, who almost decided not to play the event this year before settling for a wild card, said.

Seles dominated from the baseline, and served particularly well, not letting Sanchez Vicario get too many free hits. In fact, the Spaniard had just one break point, when Seles served at 3-2 in the second, which in the event she failed to convert.

The former world number one, however, indicated in the post-match press briefing that she was not looking too hard at returning to the top slot. "I would like to concentrate on winning the US Open if I can," she said. That would, she added, mean more than taking the number one slot. "When you win a Grand Slam tournament, that's a different feeling, that is one of the things that keeps me going."

Meanwhile in New Haven, Slovakian Karol Kucera outlasted Goran Ivanisevic 6-4 5-7 6-2 in the finals of the Pilot Pen International tennis tournament.

"I'm happy with the way I played this week," said the 24- year-old champion. "And I'm hoping to carry this into the Open. If I play as well, maybe I can beat some of the good guys there."

The outcome was decided in the fifth game of the final set when eighth-seeded Ivanisevic's erratic serving got him in a 0-40 hole. After salvaging two points, the Croatian double-faulted for the second time in the game and Kucera went up 3-2.

After holding for 4-2, Kucera broke a second time when the net-charging Ivanisevic was unable to handle the volley and he fell into a 5-2 hole.

Kucera then served out the match with the loss of only one point as Ivanisevic returned long to end it.

Ivanisevic, who had made the title round with his big service, struck 15 aces but also had 10 double- faults.

1 "I seemed to lose my confidence in my second serve," he said. "I've got to play better than I did today. He made me run so much, I didn't have a clue where the ball was going. He takes the ball so early - he makes you make mistakes."

Ivanisevic complained on court about what he termed "a couple of bad calls that hurt me" and added, "they need more young people calling the lines in the States. There are too many older people who can't see."

Asked about the chances for the US OPen, he said, "A lot of people could win it. Me? I'm unpredictable."

Agencies