Seles lifts title

RIO DE JANEIRO, SEPT. 16. Top seed Monica Seles swept aside Jelena Dokic of Yugoslavia 6-3, 6-3 to win the $100,000 Brazil Open tennis tournament on Saturday.

The American was aggressive throughout the encounter and a break in each set was enough for Seles to clinch her second title of the year yesterday.

Dokic saved one match point at 5-3 but Seles wrapped up the match on her second attempt.

``It was terrific and almost like being on vacation... But of course I had to work hard,'' said Seles, who also won the U.S. indoor championships in Oklahoma in February.

Second seed Dokic, the winner of the Italian Open in May, admitted she had not been at her best. ``I did not play well and you have to be on your game against Monica,'' Dokic said.

Meanwhile, fifth-seeded Fernando Meligeni battled past Argentine Agustin Calleri 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 to reach the men's final against wildcard Jan Vacek.

Home favourite Meligeni kept his nerve in the tightly- fought first set tie-break, which Calleri lost after hitting four unforced errors.

Meligeni will play his first ATP final since winning his third tour title in Prague three years ago.

``I did not expect to be playing a final after these long three years but as I said before the prize is always there when you practice hard,'' Meligeni said.

Meligeni admitted he would not mind receiving some of the adulation normally heaped on compatriot and twice French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten, who was knocked out in the first round on Tuesday. ``Guga, we all know, is the king. Tomorrow, I want to be the prince. I hope that the title stays here in Brazil. I will have to fight physically and mentally as much as I can to win.'' Czech wildcard Vacek, who upset sixth-seed Brazilian Alexandre Simoni 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 in the other semifinal, knows he will be up against the crowd when he faces Meligeni.

``He (Meligeni) won his last singles title in my home town (Prague) so it would be nice if I can win here, not only because it is my first ATP title ever but also to do it here in Brazil,'' said Vacek.

``I know it is going to be tough. He is an experienced player and is playing in front of his home crowd. And not any kind of crowd... A Brazilian crowd. If I start well the crowd will not be a problem. I know the crowd here is noisy, they are like in a football match but I just expect they are respectful between points,'' Vacek said.

The results:

Women (final): Monica Seles bt Jelena Dokic 6-3, 6-3.

Men (semifinals): Fernando Meligeni bt Agustin Calleri 7-6 (7-5), 7-5; Jan Vacek bt Alexandre Simoni 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.

- Reuters

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