Black magic scuttles Rainer8217;s aspirations

CHENNAI, April 11: Byron Black snapped out of a trance in the nick of time when Rainer Schuttler threatened to runaway with the match and rallied magnificently to win 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, in the singles final of the 430,000 ATP Gold Flake Open tennis tournament, at Nungambakkam Stadium here on Sunday.

Black, the fourth seeded 29-year old from Zimbabwe, had to work harder than expected for the 58,000 cheque. After taking the first set quite comfortably, Black8217;s form took a nosedive while Schuttler, the seventh seeded German, took his game to great heights with a series of volleys, passes and placements, to draw level. However, in the decider, Black regained the initiative with an early service break to emerge a deserving winner.

The victory must be especially sweet for Black for whom it was only his second career title triumph in five trips to the final, including the inaugural one in New Delhi three years ago when he went down to Thomas Enqvist.