'Magician' Fabrice Santoro broke Prakash Amritraj's spell at the Newport ATP, beating the Indian 6-3, 7-5 in the final on Sunday.

Second-seeded Frenchman, Santoro, became only the third player in the history of the Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships to defend his title.

After a nervous start, which saw both players break serve in the first two games, it was Santoro who seized control with a second break of the Amritraj serve for a 3-1 lead. He wrapped up the first set in 30 minutes, winning 18 of 27 service points.

The second set went with serve until the 11th game, when Santoro converted his fifth break point opportunity of the match for a 6-5 lead.

The veteran clinched his sixth career ATP title with a service hold to love.

The ranking disparity between Santoro (No. 57) and Amritraj (305) was the largest difference in ranking between two participants in an ATP final since Washington, D.C. in 2007 when No. 5 Andy Roddick [Images] defeated No. 416 John Isner (a difference of 411).

Prakash, 24, is the first Indian to make a final of the tournament since Leander Paes [Images] claimed the title in 1998.

His father, Vijay, had won the first Hall of Fame tournament in 1976, when it was a 16-man exhibition, beating Brian Teacher.

The following year the tournament became an official stop on the men's circuit and it was won by Tim Gullikson.

Vijay won again in 1980, defeating Andrew Pattison in a three-set final and in 1984 won it for the third time, beating Tim Mayotte in three sets.

Santoro joins Bryan Shelton (1991-92) and Greg Rusedski [Images] (2004-05) as a repeat winner in Newport. He is the first No. 2 seed to have won the Newport title since Johan Kriek in 1981.

The 35-year-old is the eighth oldest ATP champion since 1980.

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