Points won by each set: [ 39-36, 37-30 ]
Points won directly on serve:
34 % Courier – 24 of 70
45 % Philippoussis – 33 of 72
The 18-year-old Philippoussis [272, qualifier] was trying to become one of the lowest ranked ATP titelists in his main-level event No. 5. Just like in four preceding main-draw matches against quality opponents, in the final the young Australian displayed his biggest weapon – huge serve, and it looked like a match destined for two tie-breaks at least, but at 4-all in the 2nd set he helped to be broken, committing two double faults in the first three points of the game to find himself at 0/40 – Courier [13] converted his second opportunity and finished the event with an overhead after a bounce in the next game. In the opener the underdog had a triple break point at 2-all, but couldn’t keep in play any of Courier’s three consecutive serves.
Courier’s route to his 16th title:
1 Lionel Roux 7-6(2), 6-4
2 Renzo Furlan 6-3, 6-4
Q Mark Woodforde 6-3, 6-3
S Stefan Edberg 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-4
W Mark Philippoussis 7-6(2), 6-4