Sunday, 4 November, 2001, 17:08 GMT
Grosjean triumphs in Paris
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/1637643.stm

Sebastien Grosjean took his place in the end-of-season
Masters Cup after overcoming Yevgeny Kafelnikov in an
absorbing Paris Masters final.

The 23-year-old Frenchman, who needed to win to qualify
for Sydney, swept into a two-set lead before faltering
in the third.

With the French crowd behind him and despite visibly
tiring, the sixth seed managed to gather himself to
take the title 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 6-4.

Kafelnikov, the Olympic champion and a former French
Open champion, has still to win a Masters Series event.

The first set was a tough, physical affair. Grosjean
outscored his opponent by six aces to one, but a break
of serve for either player never looked likely.

However, the Frenchman immediately went on the attack in
the tie-break with a couple of stunning cross-court
passing shots from well outside the tram-lines.

And, having taken the early initiative, Grosjean earned
himself five set points.

The Russian saved the first two before Grosjean delighted
the 14,000 capacity crowd by deservedly taking the set
7-6 (7-3) after 44 minutes.

Having established the psychological advantage, Grosjean
maintained it by winning his opening service game to love
in the second set.

Kafelnikov then produced his first double-fault and
slipped to 30-40.

It was the first break-point of the match and, after a
lengthy rally, the Russian faltered to gice his opponent
another boost.

Kafelnikov claimed his first game of the set at 0-5, but
Grosjean served out his next game with consummate ease to
take a commanding two-set lead.

If there was going to be any way back for the Russian, he
had to find a way of dealing with Grosjean's serve.

At 3-3 and 0-15in the third set, an unlucky net-cord
appeared to break the Russian's resolve again.

He double-faulted the next point and three break-points
were more than enough for Grosjean to seize the initiative
again.

But Kafelnikov refused to concede and finally broke serve
for the first time in the match to get back on level terms
and the third set duly went to a tie-break.

Grosjean's first double-fault of the match could hardly
have come at a worse moment than at 3-3 and suddenly
Kafelnikov had a window of opportunity.

He grafted away and took the stanza with his third set
point.

Grosjean was visibly wilting and needed a leg massage
before the fourth set and again after the third game.

No player had ever come from two sets down to win this
event but it was clear that, if the game was to go to a
fifth set, the Russian would be favourite.

But at 4-5, Kafelnikov appeared to feel the pressure, and
three unforced errors gave the Frenchman two match points.

Kafelnikov dealt with them emphatically but Grosjean won
another chance with an audacious forehand at deuce.

The Frenchman then offered up a huge lob which Kafelnikov
crashed into the net.