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February 17, 2002
Enqvist Claims 19th Career Title in Marseille

==Swede saved two match points just to reach the final.==

Sweden's Thomas Enqvist captured his third title at the Open 13
in Marseille with a 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-1 victory over Frenchman
Nicolas Escude. Enqvist, who won back-to-back titles in Marseille
in 1997-98, now has a 16-1 record in the tournament and maintained
his 100 percent record against Escude (3-0).

"It's my third win here - I love this court," said Enqvist after
claiming his 19th career ATP title and his first since Basel in
October 2000. "I had opportunities to win the first set. I never
lost my serve and I think I played a great match today."

Enqvist, who won 10 of the last 11 games after trailing 3-2 in the
second set, faced only one break point throughout the match.
"[Nicolas] is a very aggressive player," said Enqvist. "He has a
long reach at the net and it is tough to pass him. He was serving
great once I started to read his serve, the match turned in my
favor."

The Swede had a tough route to the final, recording consecutive
three-set wins over Francisco Clavet and French qualifier Gregory
Carraz in the first two rounds, defeating third seed Sebastien
Grosjean in the quarterfinals and saved two match points against
second seed and defending champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the
semifinals.

"I've had a difficult week with some long matches," said Enqvist.
"I was a bit stiff, especially after yesterday's match [against
Kafelnikov], but you don't think about that when you're in the
final."

Escude, who did not drop a set en route to his fourth ATP final,
had some consolation when he won the doubles title with Arnaud
Clement. But the Frenchman would have liked to have gone home with
the singles crown as well. "It's a big disappointment," said Escude.
"I felt my serve let me down in the second and third sets, that
made the difference. It could have gone either way today."

Earlier in the tournament, top seed Juan Carlos Ferrero reached
the quarterfinals before losing to local favorite Cedric Pioline
while Greg Rusedski upset Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson
in the first round.