The sixth and last final in career of the 31-year-old Tarango [79]. His eight years younger opponent enjoyed second straight week of his extraordinary transformation (won back-to-back titles in Stuttgart & Umag) which allowed him to jump from No. 49 to No. 2 within a year!
The Swede leading 3:1* (30/15) in the 1st set, twisted a bit his right ankle and needed a 2-minute treatment. There were four consecutive breaks of serve in the 2nd set played under the floodlights, and Tarango moved 4:3* ahead – Norman took the next three games, but had to save two break points serving for the championship. Before the final, the American led 3:1 in their H2H rivalry.
Norman’s route to his 5th title:
1 German Puentes 6-3, 6-1
2 Guillermo Canas 6-4, 6-3
Q Carlos Moya 6-2, 7-6(8)
S Ivan Ljubicic 6-0, 6-2
W Jeff Tarango 6-2, 6-4
The sixth and last final in career of the 31-year-old Tarango [79]. His eight years younger opponent enjoyed second straight week of his extraordinary transformation (won back-to-back titles in Stuttgart & Umag) which allowed him to jump from No. 49 to No. 2 within a year!
The Swede leading 3:1* (30/15) in the 1st set, twisted a bit his right ankle and needed a 2-minute treatment. There were four consecutive breaks of serve in the 2nd set played under the floodlights, and Tarango moved 4:3* ahead – Norman took the next three games, but had to save two break points serving for the championship. Before the final, the American led 3:1 in their H2H rivalry.
Norman’s route to his 5th title:
1 German Puentes 6-3, 6-1
2 Guillermo Canas 6-4, 6-3
Q Carlos Moya 6-2, 7-6(8)
S Ivan Ljubicic 6-0, 6-2
W Jeff Tarango 6-2, 6-4