Czech Tabara wins Indian Open singles title

A Correspondent in Madras

Michal Tabara of the Czech Republic won the men's singles title at the Gold Flake Indian Open in Madras on Sunday, beating unseeded Russian Andrei Stoliarov 6-2, 7-6 (7-4).

Both Tabara and Stoliarov were playing the final of an ATP Tour event for the first time. The champion did not drop a single set in the entire tournament.

The twenty-one-year-old Tabara, ranked 195 at the end of last year, played like a man possessed, perhaps having reserved his best for the day, and came up with flying colours subduing his rival in one hour 23 minutes to sign off the first tournament of the season in style.

While he carried home the winner's purse of US$54,000, perhaps the biggest sum he has won so far in his rising career, Stoliarov had to be content with the runner-up's cheque for $31,500.

In the doubles final, the Brothers Black, Byron and Wayne, easily beat the British-Italian combination of Barry Cowan and Mose Navara 6-3, 6-4.

The top seeds from Zimbabwe, who had a win-loss record of 19-12 and the semi-final berth at Newport in 1996 as their best performance before entering the final here, thus won their first ATP Tour doubles title.

EARLIER REPORTS:
Paes-Bhupathi make exit; Tabara, Stoliarov in singles final
Black brothers in doubles final