Tennis: Aucklander wins final at third try

Lee Radovanovich beating Matt Prentice in the New Zealand Residentials men’s singles final. Picture / Brett Phibbs

It was a symbol of victory and defiance as Lee Radovanovich did the "I'm No 1" sign as he hit the winning shot in the New Zealand Residentials final yesterday.

The signal appeared to be directed at New Zealand Davis Cup captain Bruce Derlin, sitting in the crowd at the North Harbour Tennis Park.

Auckland third seed Radovanovich won the final 6-1, 7-6 (13-11) over fourth seed Matt Prentice of Wellington.

Radovanovich's win was in his third final after two runners-up places in the late 90s.

But in this final he wanted to prove that although he will be a fulltime coach next year, he is still one of the best players in the country.

During the week he was withdrawn by Tennis New Zealand from the Heineken Open wildcard playoff, which is stated to be for professional players only, something which Radovanovich agrees with.

However, he believes he's not the only player who should be withdrawn from the playoff because others from the remaining seven are not professional players on the world circuit.

The final was looking like an easy win for Radovanovich, 22, who wrapped up the first set 6-1 by pouncing on Prentice's usually difficult serve.

Radovanovich then worked his way to 5-2 in the second set before Prentice's timing came back.

The match progressed to a tiebreak and each player had plenty of opportunities to either take the match or force it to a third set. Radovanovich prevailed in an exciting tiebreak 13-11.

"I wanted to be aggressive and just went for it

"I went out there thinking it would be three sets, and that's what happens every time we play," said Radovanovich.

"I knew I could hold my serve and would have to take some risks on his serve when he was banging them down. In the second set I got over-anxious and tried to force the play a little. I was really nervous in the tiebreak."

As for winning the national champs but not being allowed to enter the wildcard playoff, Radovanovich felt that he had showed everyone a thing or two during the event.

"I think I proved that I can play to a few people," he said.

In the women's final Leanne Baker, who has been concentrating mainly on doubles on the WTA tour and is ranked 132 in the world, defeated Shelley Stephens in quick fashion 6-1, 6-4.

It was Baker's sixth singles title in the last eight years at the Residentials, and reversed the finals result from the Auckland championships earlier in the week.

Baker also teamed with Stephens to win her ninth consecutive doubles title. They beat Pavlina Nola and Niki Tippins in three sets in the final.