Alex Corretja came from two sets down to beat Spanish compatriot Carlos Moya 3-6, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-5 in the $3.5 million ATP Tour World Championships in Hanover yesterday. The 24-year-old, who ousted world number one Pete Sampras in Saturday's semi-finals, was the first Spaniard to win the season-ending tournament since Manuel Orantes won in Houston in 1976.
The four-hour marathon was a repeat of the duo's match-up in June's French Open final, which 22-year-old Moya won easily.
"I learned a lot from the French Open," Corretja said. "That was the first really big final for me in my career, I didn't know how to approach it.
"Today, even when I was losing, I was playing different. It was not really good tennis, but mentally, I was still in the match." Moya had been hoping to add the year-end title to clay court wins at the French and Monte Carlo Opens earlier this year.
But Corretja showed fighting spirit against his friend and training partner, coming back from a break down in the final set and recovering after Moya saved a match point in the 10th game.
Corretja broke his rival back for a 6-5 lead and grabbed victory a game later on his second match point.
After winning the first two sets comfortably, Moya dropped the third as the tension between the compatriots mounted. In the fourth, Corretja's form began to improve and he brought on a fifth set, breaking Moya for 5-3.
Corretja will move up to a career-best third in the world in Monday's final 1998 rankings. Beaten finalist Moya, who beat Britain's Tim Henman in his semi-final, will stay on fifth.
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