Stoltenberg retains title

Stoltenberg may be the hottest player currently on tour. In the past two weeks he has compiled a win-loss record of 12-2, reaching the semifinals at Orlando two weeks ago and the final at Atlanta last week.

8220;It8217;s a great feeling,8221; Stoltenberg said. 8220;I8217;ve reached the semis and the finals the last two weeks and to come away from another final with a loss would8217;ve been hard to take. Today, it felt like deja vu for me, like I could just do it again here.8221;

The one hour, 44 minute final, played in front of a sparse crowd, had a one hour, 37 minute rain delay with Stoltenberg leading 3-0 in the first set.

After play resumed, the conditions were very humid, making the balls and court extremely heavy.

The 23rd-ranked Bjorkman, looking for his second career title, could not find his form in the first set, batting unforced errors into the net or outside the perimeter of the court. The Swede won only five points in his three service games in that set.

But Bjorkman pulled his game together in the second set, and that encouraged three young Swedish fans into vocal action.

The three all wearing blue shorts and some version of the Swedish national colours, blue and yellow delighted the crowd with a variety of chants for the remainder of the match, as they had in the semifinal Saturday.

8220;It was so nice to have Swedish support away from home,8221; said Bjorkman. 8220;I even think they helped me get the support from the Americans here. This is what tennis needs to make matches more fun. The fans don8217;t have to be that straight any more.8221;

But not even the fans could make him feel at ease against Stoltenberg.8220;I didn8217;t feel too comfortable out there today,8221; Bjorkman said. 8220;I did make a good comeback though, with a fighting spirit. I didn8217;t play good tennis, but I played a good match because I fought hard.8221;

In the sixth game of the second set, Stoltenberg8217;s serve let him down as he double faulted twice, including on the final point of the six-point game. Another service break in the eighth game and the match was even at a set apiece.

The third set went even at 4-4 as each player struggled to take the upper hand. 8220;Halfway through the second set my energy level disappeared,8221; Stoltenberg said. 8220;It was only for a couple of games and then I felt pretty good again.8221;

Stoltenberg finally went ahead with a service break in the ninth game which put him at 5-4 and serving for the match.

The Australian fell apart in the next game, barely keeping a ball in the court. Frustrated at passing up a chance to close out the match, he smacked his racket to the floor and bent down and started yelling at it.

After that a typical outburst of emotion, Stoltenberg won the final eight points of the match in impressive style.