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 In the money Rusedski captures the richest prize in tennis over Haas
Posted: Sunday October 03, 1999 10:45 AM
MUNICH, Germany (AP) -- Greg Rusedski used his big serve to overpower Tommy Haas in four sets Sunday and capture the richest prize in tennis, picking up US$1.3 million as the winner of the Grand Slam Cup. Rusedski fired 29 aces to win 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5). Haas, a 21-year-old German ranked No. 11 in the world, had to console himself with US$650,000. Rusedski, a 26-year-old Canadian-born Briton, won the eighth title of his career. The US$6.7-million tournament pays more money per player than any other event in the world but there are no ranking points at stake. It invites 12 men and eight women with the best records in the four Grand Slam events of the year. With his serves often reaching speeds of more than 220 kilometers per hour (137 mph), Rusedski easily dominated the match and won all the big points in the first two sets. Haas, on the other hand, looked to be a bit impressed by the occasion, playing well under the level when he upset No. 1 Andre Agassi in the quarterfinals. Rusedski, No. 6 in the world, first faltered at the end of the third set. He faced four set points in the ninth game. He saved two with aces, one with a service winner and one was a Haas error, a netted return. That took the set into a tiebreaker, in which Haas seized a 4-1 lead. Haas scored with a volley to give himself three more set points, with Rusedski to serve. Rusedski saved one with a volley and the second with a service winner. But it was then Haas' turn to serve and he won the set when Rusedski's return sailed long. The German was unable to keep the momentum. After leading 40-15, he was taken to deuce by a double-fault. Haas saved one break point, but on the next, Rusedski hit a perfect forehand return to the corner that left Haas flat-footed on the wrong side. That gave Rusedski a 3-1 lead and he went up 5-2. Haas again led 40-15 and again was taken to deuce. Rusedski earned a match point when he stretched at the net and scored with a forehand volley. Has saved it with a backhand passing shot and held serve. Leading 5-3, Rusedski served for the match. Suddenly, Haas started playing with audacity, and Rusedski fell behind 0-30. He then netted a volley and Haas had three break points. Another Rusedski approach volley went into the net and Haas broke back. Another tiebreaker was required and Rusedski took a decisive 4-2 lead when Haas hit a backhand long. Rusedski earned three more match points with an overhead smash. Haas fired an ace on the first and Rusedski hit a backhand return long on the second. On the third, Rusedski rode a big serve to win the match with a forehand volley after two hours and 46 minutes. In the women's final defending champion Venus Williams played younger sister Serena.
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