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Mauresmo outlasts Pierce to win WTA Champions
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-14 10:39
LOS ANGELES - Amelie Mauresmo outlasted Mary Pierce 5-7, 7-6 (3), 6-4 in a
marathon baseline slugfest to win the WTA Championships on Sunday for the
biggest title of her career.
Amelie Mauresmo of
France poses with the trophy after defeating compatriot Mary Pierce during
the final of the WTA Tour Championships in Los Angeles November 13, 2005.
[Reuters] | Mauresmo double-faulted to trail
love-40 in the final game, but rallied on five consecutive errors by Pierce in
the first all-French final of the season-ending tournament.
When Pierce's cross-court backhand went wide, Mauresmo fell to her knees and
clapped her hands to her head as the crowd erupted in applause. She got up and
met Pierce on the sideline, where they embraced and Pierce whispered in her ear
and kissed Mauresmo's cheek.
She earned $1 million for the victory; Pierce received $500,000.
For more than three hours, the women jerked each other from side to side,
with Mauresmo changing up speeds and Pierce artfully using drop shots to keep
each other on the run.
Pierce and Mauresmo broke each other once in the first set, which Pierce won
on Mauresmo's netted backhand.
They traded breaks again in the second, when Mauresmo blew a 4-1 lead and
failed to cash in two break points on Pierce's serve in the 10th game. Pierce's
cross-court backhand winner helped her hold at 6-all.
In the tiebreak, Mauresmo won three straight points to take a 4-1 lead.
Pierce closed to 5-3 before her forehand failed and Mauresmo hit a winning
backhand to even the match.
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