Rubin wins first title of the year in Madrid

By Chris Davies
May 24 2003

The number 1 seed Chanda Rubin of the United States defeats Maria Antiona Sanchez Lorenzo at the Spanish Open in Madrid 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.

Chanda Rubin won the Madrid Open in a surprisingly tough battle against unseeded Spaniard Maria Sanchez Lorenzo.

Rubin who has had a good run at this tournament eventhough recent clay tournaments have been a disastrous occasion for her but this time she put it behind her. The top seed reached the final last year losing to Monica Seles but everything didn't go her way.

The 8th seed for the French Open next week won the first set 6-4 probably thought that her opponent was going to die down in the second set. There was no sign has Sanchez Lorenzo fought back to one set all in a very tight second set has Rubin had chances to close out the match and should have upped her game but she was rattled by the play of Lorenzo.

The third set was yet again a very tight affair unclear of who the winner was going to be but Rubin was a class above Maria Sanchez Lorenzo at the end of the day.

Final Result

(1) Chanda Rubin (USA) beat Maria Antonia Sanchez Lorenzo (Spain)6-4, 5-7, 6-4