Rafter tops in Toronto

Australia's Patrick Rafter won the Canadian Open in Toronto in blistering heat, beating Dutchman Richard Krajicek in straight sets 7-6 (7/3), 6-4.

With the on-court thermometer showing the temperature to be above 50 degrees centigrade, the first set was a slugfest between two players relying heavily on their first serves.

Neither Rafter nor Kracijek wilted in the blistering heat and both held on to their serves, forcing a tie-break.

Then the Dutchman - who has a strong reputation for winning tie-breakers - appeared to suffer from nerves and Rafter took the first set with a tiebreak score of 7-3.

Kracijek came back strongly in the second set to break Rafter's serve in the fourth game. But Rafter immediately broke back and then broke the Dutchman's serve again in the ninth game to go ahead 5-4 and serve out the match.

Meanwhile, Lindsay Davenport won her second title in as many weeks with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Mary Pierce, who was hobbled by a leg injury, in the final of the Toshiba Tennis Classic yesterday.

"It's unfortunate Mary got hurt," Davenport said. "Today, I had a little bit of luck on my side and was able to pull it out."

The unseeded Pierce had surprised third-seeded Venus Williams before stunning world number one Martina Hingis in a stirring semi-final win.

However, the 23-year-old French star fell short in the final due in part to a pulled right quadriceps muscle suffered in pre-match warm-ups.