LONDON, 20 June 2004 — Thailand’s Paradorn Srichaphan recovered from an awful start to beat Thomas Johansson 1-6, 7-6, 6-3 for the Nottingham Open title yesterday.

Paradorn steadied himself after the Swede had raced away with the opening set in just 20 minutes and hauled his way back from 4-1 down in the second set to win his first grasscourt title.

The Thai became the first top seed to win the Nottingham crown.

After the start had been delayed by rain over the City of Nottingham Tennis Centre, qualifier Johansson had looked on course for his first title since claiming the Australian Open in 2002.

However the 29-year-old Swede, who missed all last year with a knee injury, was unable to maintain his high level and join Greg Rusedski and Jonas Bjorkman as a twice winner of the event.

Johansson, who won the Nottingham Open title in 2001, had never lost a match at the event. He would have become the first qualifier to win the tournament.

Kuznetsova Beats Hantuchova in Eastbourne Final

In London, Svetlana Kuznetsova ended Daniela Hantuchova’s dream run at the Eastbourne International tennis tournament yesterday, slamming the brakes on the Slovak to win the title.

The second-seeded Russian was blown away by Hantuchova — once ranked fifth in the world but now wallowing at 54th — in the first set before hitting back for a 2-6, 7-6, 6-4 win.

For the Russian, who had lost the last three finals she had contested, victory meant a first title since Bali in September 2002. Her title win was also the third by a Russian woman in as many weeks.

Anastasia Myskina won the French Open two weeks ago and Maria Sharapova won last week’s grasscourt tournament in Edgbaston.

“It’s great for Russians,” the 18-year-old Kuznetsova said.

“I just could not get into the match at the start, and Daniela was playing so unbelievably, I couldn’t do anything...but I just tried to stay in the second set.”

Pierce Beats Koukalova to Claim Ordina Open Title

In Den Bosch, Netherlands, France’s Mary Pierce won the first grasscourt title of her career when she defeated Klara Koukalova of the Czech Republic 7-6, 6-2 in the final of the Ordina Open yesterday.

The title gives Pierce a boost as she heads into Wimbledon, which starts on Monday, after a third-round loss at the French Open last month.

“I played a lot of matches on grass...I won the tournament, so I have confidence in my game, I’m playing well — it’s excellent preparation,” the 29-year-old told reporters.

Pierce, ranked 26th in the world, gave up a 5-0 lead in the first set, with Koukalova coming back to tie the set at 6-6 before losing the tiebreak on a double fault.

Pierce earlier in the day defeated Lina Krasnoroutskaya of Russia 6-2, 6-2 in the semifinal. The match was postponed from Friday when rain interrupted play several times, resulting in a packed schedule yesterday.

In the men’s quarterfinals, Argentine top seed Guillermo Coria beat Frenchman Arnaud Clement 6-2, 7-5. He meets Mario Ancic in the semifinals after the Croat defeated Dutchman Martin Verkerk 6-3, 6-3.

Nalbandian Out of Wimbledon

In London, former Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian of Argentina yesterday announced he has pulled out of this year’s Championships with an abdominal muscle tear injury.

Nalbandian, who emerged from the pack to reach the 2002 final where he lost to Lleyton Hewitt, only managed to play five games of an exhibition match on Friday because of the injury. The blond-haired Argentinian has been seeded fourth for this year’s tournament, which starts tomorrow, and was scheduled to meet home hero Tim Henman in the last eight.

His place has been taken by Peru’s Luis Horna.