BANGKOK, 29 September 2003 — American Taylor Dent denied world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero the first indoor victory of his career, sweeping past the Spaniard 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) yesterday to win the $550,000 Thailand Open.

Thousands in a sellout crowd of 10,000 had been cheering on the popular Ferrero as he became the de facto favorite after the tearful quarterfinal exit of Thailand’s Paradorn Srichaphan.

But the underrated Dent, whose big serve is beginning to be backed up by solid play at the net, spoiled the scenario at the Impact Arena. The eighth seed, who hammered eight aces, lifted his second title of the season and third of his career with the win in one hour, 40 minutes.

Ferrero, whose previous three trophies this season have all come on clay, was unable to storm back after Dent won the opening set, leveling in the second but losing in a deciding tie-breaker as the American put a winning return down the line to seal victory.

Philippoussis Downs Novak

to Win Shanghai ATP Crown

Third seed Mark Philippoussis crushed Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-1 yesterday to win the $380,000 ATP tournament in Shanghai.

The big-serving Australian needed only 45 minutes to smash the powerful tournament top seed, relying on his usual combination of aces — nine in the match — solid ground strokes and net play.

“I was aggressive out there today in all parts of my game — I didn’t want him dictating the points — and I came out swinging,” said the 27-year old.

The victory gave the Wimbledon finalist his first triumph since Memphis in early 2001, helping him climb to ninth in the ATP champions race from his current 15th.

Novak, who was shooting for his second ATP win of the year after triumphing in Gstaad, conceded that Philippoussis had played “excellent” tennis and that he had not been able to answer his pounding attack.

“From the beginning I felt good on the court, but Mark was playing excellent tennis — he was just killing everything, he was playing so quick,” Novak said.

The very fast hard court seemed to suit Philippoussis, who said he had been feeling comfortable on all week, despite a late arrival here following his loss to Switzerland’s Roger Federer in the Davis Cup.

During the final, the usually consistent Czech saw his steady style fall apart as he committed a litany of unforced errors and shot after shot sailed wide or into the net.

Novak’s trouble began in the fifth game of the first set, as the “Scud” caught the world number 12 off guard with a couple of drop shots to give him a break and a 6-2 win.

Myskina Upsets Henin to Lift

WTA Tournament in Leipzig

Third seed Anastasia Myskina of Russia picked up her fifth WTA tour title defeating world number two Justine Henin-Hardenne 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the final of the $585,000 tournament yesterday.

The 22-year-old Moscow native, ranked number ten in the world, ended the 22-match winning streak of French and US Open heroine Henin and made amends for last year when she lost to Amercian powerhouse Serena Williams in the final.

After losing the first set 6-3, with Henin’s backhand causing all sorts of problems, Myskina raised her game and took the second set 6-3 to level the match.

The decisive third set proved a tense affair but Myskina took advantage of a tired-looking Henin-Hardenne to serve out the match at 5-3. Henin-Hardenne, 21, missed the chance to really close the gap on compatriot Kim Clijsters in the world rankings.