Japan's Ai Sugiyama produced one of the greatest one-day efforts in WTA history, capturing two three-set matches in Scottsdale (Arizona, US) on Sunday to win the 585,000-dollar State Farm Classic title in epic fashion.
Sugiyama defeated doubles partner and second seed Kim Clijsters of Belgium 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the final after having saved three match-points in a 6-7 (2-7), 6-2, 7-6 (9-7) semi-final victory over American Alexandra Stevenson.
"I don't know how I pulled it out," Sugiyama said. "I felt tired when I was playing that second match, but actually it worked good. I didn't feel any added pressure because I was too tired."
The 27-year-old from Tokyo, who had barely 90 minutes between matches, withstood the endurance test to win the 93,000-dollar top prize and take her fourth and greatest WTA singles title, her first since the 1998 Japan Open.
Clijsters and Sugiyama then joined forces to beat France's Marion Bartoli and Stephanie Cohen-Aloro 7-5, 6-0 in a rain-delayed doubles semi-final.
After that, Sugiyama and Clijsters took a 6-1, 6-4 triumph over Americans Lisa Raymond and Lindsay Davenport in the doubles final.
When her marathon was done, Sugiyama had played 10 sets in six hours and 18 minutes, winning eight of them for four titles. It was an epic quadruple sweep for titles that made WTA history.
"I feel exhausted but great," Sugiyama said. "Even though I had to prepare for a 10 am match, I woke up at 7. It has been a long day, but it's been a good finish. It gives me a good fighting spirit. I'm still alive."
Withstanding such pressure gave Sugiyama a huge lift for the rest of the season and renewed her confidence that she could find a spot among the elite of the WTA.
"I knew it was coming, but the results were always coming later than I was waiting for," Sugiyama said. "This is really an unbelievable thing for me. It gives me confidence. I'm looking forward to doing well in my future."
Courageous Sugiyama's last-day double, necessitated when showers postponed her semi-finals Saturday, began when she rescued three match points in a third-set tie-breaker to beat Stevenson after two hours and 12 minutes.
Clijsters came within two points of the title before 25th-ranked Sugiyama battled back to claim the second set.
Sugiyama got a rest when rain halted play 45 minutes in the third set and won the final after two hours and four minutes.
"I just focused on every point. That helped me, I think," Sugiyama said. "Even if I was feeling tired, I had to push myself, 'Just one point, one point.'"
Sugiyama's prior WTA singles titles included the 1997 and 1998 Japan Opens and the 1998 Gold Coast event.
"Last time I won a tournament was Tier III in Japan in 1998, so it was a while since I won a title," Sugiyama said.
"This is Tier II and a big tournament, so many good players playing up there. I just couldn't believe it."
