Kim Clijsters became the first Belgian to gain the world's top ranking when she beat second seed Lindsay Davenport in the final of the JP Morgan Chase Open on Sunday.

"I feel a little confused, but it's great to be number one," said the 20-year-old Clijsters, who took over the top spot from the injured Serena Williams with her 6-1 3-6 6-1 victory.

"It was something so far away and I was waiting for. It kept me motivated and made me work harder when I had tough times."

Clijsters jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first set with a pinpoint service game, powerful groundstrokes and by attacking Davenport's second serve.

She then took the set when she ripped a backhand crosscourt past Davenport and then hit a twisting 84 mph second serve winner.

But three-times champion Davenport began to find the range with her big first serve and searing groundstrokes in the second set and took a 2-0 lead in the second.

But Clijsters broke back to 2-3 and then fought off two break points to even the set at 3-3 and appeared to be regaining control of the match.

However the tall American fought off four break points with a series of winners to hold to 4-3, broke again to go out to 5-3 and then levelled the match with a 107-mph service winner.

The players then took a 10-minute break between sets because of the heat. When they returned Clijsters raced out to a 3-0 lead.

Davenport appeared to tire and began noticeably limping after she fell behind 4-1, with Clijsters then seizing the advantage to win the match, pumping her fists when she did so while a small group of fans chanted "number one, number one."

Roddick eases to win over Nalbandian in Montreal Masters

Andy Roddick bagged his fourth title of the year with a 6-1 6-3 win over Argentine David Nalbandian in the rain-interrupted final of the Montreal Masters on Sunday.

Roddick, seeded six, cruised to his first Masters Series victory helped by 27 unforced errors from the unseeded Nalbandian.

"It feels great," said Roddick, who remained fifth in the ATP Champions Race but moved to within eight points of third-placed Andre Agassi.

Nalbandian got a break point as soon as the opening game of the first set but Roddick's trademark cannon serve saved it. The 20-year-old American then broke Nalbandian twice.

In the second set, the players swapped breaks on unforced errors, but Roddick broke the 21 year-old Argentine twice@to win the $2.45 million tournament a year after losing in the final to Guillermo Canas.

The match started an hour-and-a-half late because of rain, which also forced the players back in the locker room for almost an hour in the second set when Roddick was leading 4-2.

Roddick has now won 24 of his last 26 matches under new coach Brad Gilbert.

Reaching the final meant Nalbandian, Wimbledon runner-up last year, moved up 24th to 10th position in the ATP Champions Race.

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