Tennis: Capriati defeat helps both Williams sisters' rankings

American Serena Williams did herself and her sister a favour by beating countrywoman Jennifer Capriati 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 yesterday in the final of the State Farm Women's Classic in Arizona.

The loss by Capriati means Venus Williams will keep the No 1 world ranking for at least a second week.

Serena Williams, who was ranked ninth, will move up to No 6 when the WTA announces its rankings today.

It was Serena's first competition since she sprained her right ankle in a semifinal in Sydney in early January.

Capriati, displaced by Venus a week ago, came in as the top-seeded player. But she was not able to regain the edge she once enjoyed against Serena, beating her four straight times - the last two in Grand Slam quarter-finals - after Williams won their first meeting in Berlin three years ago.

* Men's world No 1 Lleyton Hewitt saved two match points before scraping past Andre Agassi 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-4) in a dramatic final at the $US400,000 ($950,000) San Jose Open yesterday.

After winning a tense third-set tiebreak when Agassi missed a forehand return, Hewitt screamed in delight and pumped his fists to signal the end of a classic match that featured constant end-to-end rallies and long, nail-biting exchanges.

Hewitt, playing in his first tournament for six weeks because of chickenpox, said it was one of the best matches he had played.

* Fabrice Santoro, of France, proved age is no barrier to success by winning the Dubai Open yesterday - 10 years after reaching the final of the inaugural event.

Santoro defeated Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 for his fourth career title, and gave further evidence that his best years might be yet to come.

"I'm still enjoying the game, and as long as you enjoy it you keep on improving," Santoro said.

"I feel after so many years on tour that I know myself pretty well, so I know how to train, how to be ready for the game. With experience I'm also more relaxed on the court and can take it easy."

Now 29, the Tahiti-born and London-based Santoro is still a player top seeds hope to avoid.

His touch and versatility make him a danger every time he steps on court, which he showed when helping France to victory over Australia in December's Davis Cup final in Melbourne.

Santoro has a sporting background. Although his father kept goal for a French second division side, the young Fabrice chose tennis above soccer.

He soon proved he had made the right decision by winning the 1989 French Open junior title.

Santoro's interest in tennis now extends beyond the court, and he hopes that his collection of classic rackets will one day form part of a tennis museum he wants to establish.

Santoro has kept his soccer links by supporting English premier league club Chelsea, and he also enjoys skiing and Formula One racing.

* Former French Open champion Carlos Moya beat Brazilian Fernando Meligeni 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4) in sweltering conditions in the final of the $US725,000 ($1.7 million) Mexican Open in Acapulco yesterday.

Both players again had to contend with the searing heat and humidity which earlier in the tournament caused matches in the men's and women's events to end early as several competitors withdrew because of heat exhaustion.

- AGENCIES