Tennis
Marcelo Rios, who lost the world No.1 ranking last month because of an elbow injury, is fit again and ready to bid for his first Grand Slam title at the French Open later this month.
Speaking after his walkover of injured Spaniard Albert Costa in the final of the Italian Open yesterday, the world No.3 warned: ''I feel pretty good. Physically I feel much better. My elbow is pretty good. I'm looking forward to playing the French.''
Rios, 22, refused to let the hollow nature of his final victory overshadow an impressive week in Rome. In only his second tournament since a three-week break from the ATP Tour, Rios picked up where he left off by winning every set and conceding just 25 games in four matches en route to his fourth title of the year.
More significantly, with the French due to start on May 25, Rios soundly defeated reigning champion Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil in Saturday's semi-final.
''I never expected to play so well,'' said Rios. ''I played well in all the matches here.''
Rios brought Pete Sampras's 102-week reign as world No.1 to a halt in March, but promptly fell from his pedestal without lifting a racket when an elbow injury forced him out of the Monte Carlo and Barcelona events.
Victory at Roland Garros next month would almost certainly put Rios back at the top.
Though he has yet to win a Grand Slam - he reached the Australian Open final in January only to freeze in front of Petr Korda - the clay of Roland Garros should be the natural home for his gifted ground strokes.
The Chilean, who with 32 victories boasts more match wins than any other player in 1998, may have made a bad decision by accepting a wildcard for the St Polten tournament next week.
With the French Open just a week away, he risks running his rich vein of form dry. ''I asked for a wildcard when I didn't know I'd win here. I'll just go there and try to win as many matches as possible.''
qSpain's Conchita Martinez yesterday captured the German Open, ending the unlikely run of 18-year French qualifier Amelie Mauresmo in two hard-fought sets in the final.
The little known Mauresmo was not down after the loss, which ended a week in which she upset world No.2 Lindsay Davenport and No.3 Jana Novotna.
''I had an unbelievable week,'' said Mauresmo, who played 17 sets and seven matches in six days, including the qualifying, just to reach the final.
Martinez broke an 18-month title drought at the $926,000 event, proving steadier than the world No. 65 in winning 6-4, 6-4.
For Martinez, 26, title No.29 is proof that she still ranks among the world's best despite a rough 1997. Last year ended her streak of winning a tournament every year since 1988. ''Last year was a tough year for me, but I kept fighting. I believe in myself, I believe I'm a great player.''
The 1994 Wimbledon champion dropped out of the top 10 last year. Reaching this year's Australian Open final lifted her back to world No.9.
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