Carlsen wins Tokyo Open
Denmark's Kenneth Carlsen edged out Swedish qualifier Magnus Norman 7-6, 6-3 in the final of the $800,0000 Japan Open on Sunday, capturing his second tour title and marking a comeback from a shoulder injury.
The 29-year-old Dane overcame a determined challenge by Norman with his big serve and with a bit of help from errors committed by the Swede on crucial points.
"He might have had more break points than I did, so I was a bit lucky to have pulled it out," the lanky Carlsen told a news conference.
Norman had two break points in the final game but made three groundstroke errors, giving the game and the match to the veteran Carlsen.
"I didn't take my opportunities," Norman said after the match, which lasted one hour 46 minutes.
"My head was not 110 per cent there as it has to be in a final," added Norman, who was once number two in the world.
Carlsen, who had to sit out for 19 months following two operations on his shoulder in 2000, called his victory "incredible", adding that he was surprised himself.
"My form was getting a bit better but I didn't expect this at all. This is maybe as big a surprise for me as it is for you," Carlsen told reporters.
Norman, who has also seen his ranking sink in two seasons plagued by a hip injury, had warm words for his opponent.
"I'm happy for him because I know what he has been going through, I know how tough it is to come back from injury. I wish him all the best," said Norman, who said he practised and went out occasionally with Carlsen in Monaco, where they both live.
But the 26-year-old Swede, a finalist at Roland Garros in 2000, added: "At the same time, I hate to lose...I hope this is a good start to my second career."
In a tournament full of upsets, Norman was responsible for knocking out second seed Juan Carlos Ferrero along his way to the final.
In the $170,000 women's tournament, Jill Craybas of the United States walked away with her first WTA tour title, coming from a set down to outlast Croatia's Silvija Talaja 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the final.
The match between the two unseeded players often fell into an exchange of unforced errors and each had trouble keeping her service games but in the end, Craybas said it was her mental toughness that made her victorious.
"I've changed my attitude -- believing in yourself and to know that you can do well...having confidence in my play," the 28-year-old American told the crowd on centre court after the match.
"I have a tendency to do better when I'm down. I think that was the case today," the jubilant but tearful Craybas added.
