American Jennifer Capriati beat Kim Clijsters of Belgium 1-6 6-4 12-10 to win her first French Open crown today.
Capriati won an enthralling and exhausting third set - the longest in terms of games in the history of French Open women's finals - with a forehandon her second match point to extend her fairytale start to 2001.
The 25-year-old's victory keeps alive her hopes of winning all four Grand Slam titles in one year following her victory in the Australian Open.
After holding her first service game Capriati lost seven on the trot to be a set down and reeling on the ropes as her 18-year-old opponent hit astream of deep, powerful winners.
But the fourth seed hit back with two breaks in the second set to square the contest and force a decider.
Capriati broke to take the lead in the third but then nerves crept in and she allowed Clijsters, seeded 12th, to break back.
The Belgian cracked again, thumping a backhand long to hand Capriati the break for 7-6. But Capriati failed to capitalise, pushing a forehand longto allow Clijsters back in at 7-7.
In the 19th game of the third set Capriati went 40-0 up on Clijsters serve and won the game when a Clijsters shot was called long at the baselineby the umpire after the linesjudge had said the ball was in.
But, serving for the match, Capriati lost the game when a Clijsters forehand flicked the net and bounced over the American on break point.
Clijsters fought back from 0-30 to 30-30 but she was broken again and Capriati earned two match points. She wasted the first with a forehandjust wide but clinched the title on her second. -Reuters