Casanova triumphs

By Team WTA
July 14 2002

Unseeded Swiss teenager Myriam Casanova fought back from a set down on Sunday to win the WTA Women's French Community Championships 4-6 6-2 6-1 against Spanish top seed Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario.

Unseeded Swiss teenager Myriam Casanova fought back from a set down on Sunday to win the WTA Women's French Community Championships 4-6 6-2 6-1 against Spanish top seed Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario.

The 17-year-old struggled initially to impose herself, losing her opening service game with three double faults.

Although leading 5-2 in the opening set, Sanchez-Vicario failed to convert four set points and allowed Casanova to claim the game.

The Spaniard made sure next time round but in the next two sets, youth triumphed over experience.

Casanova went on to win the first four games of the second set, using a mixture of volleys and double backhand shots.

"It was always a dream of mine to play against such a great player like Arantxa -- and to win," Casanova said.

Sanchez-Vicario, who missed Wimbledon because of exhaustion, looked sluggish as unforced errors crept into her game.

"I congratulate Myriam for a great match," the 30-year-old Spaniard said. "I was quite tired but did I all could. It was a great tournament for me, especially reaching the finals."

Sanchez-Vicario, four times grand slam winner, has struggled on the Tour this season, having been knocked out in the first round of the Australian and French Opens.