Arantxa annexes French crown

A seesaw first set was littered with service breaks as both players struggled to settle on Court Central.

Seles’s thumped groundstrokes were a little off range and Sanchez Vicario, whose looping groundstrokes allowed more margin for error, took advantage.

The Spaniard, winner here in 1989 and 1994, forced a tie-break and patiently waited for her American opponent to make the mistakes. Seles did not disappoint and gave her opponent a 5-1 lead.

Seles pulled it back to 5-5 but a weak forehand into the net handed Sanchez the set 7-6 in 53 minutes.

Seles, a strong sentimental favourite with the crowd following her father’s death three weeks ago, then found the form which saw her dominate women’stennis in the early 1990s, including winning this crown in 1990, 1991 and 1992.

Spain’s world number five was helpless as winner after winner flew past her and Seles, seeded sixth here, thrilled the partisan Parisians by storming through the second set 6-0 in just 24 minutes.

But as quickly as Seles found her form, it deserted her.

The world number eight squandered two break points in the first game of the decider before being broken in the second. Seles failed to convert a further two break points in the fifth game and those errors proved costly. After one hour 53 minutes, a drive volley beyond the baseline gave the crown to Sanchez Vicario.

"It was a very difficult match…There was a lot of emotions. I can’t express exactly how I feel…," Sanchez Vicario said after collecting her trophy in front of King Juan Carlos of Spain.

"Monica and I, each in our own way, we give our best, we give our passion. We both deserved to win this match. I am happy because I fought hard to win it."

Then turning toher old adversary, she said: "First of all, I’d like to congratulate Monica for making it to the final."

"I am sorry that I beat you…I have a lot of respect for you, especially because of all you’ve been through. No-one deserved to lose this game but somebody had to win it."

An emotional Seles said: "It was a great match and Arantxa definitely deserved to win."

Turning to the cheering crowd and holding back tears she added: "It’s been a great two weeks and I thank you."