Thai Paradorn Srichaphan rallied past Juan Ignacio
Chela to claim his first career ATP title on Sunday at the TD Waterhouse Cup.
Despite not being seeded himself, Srichaphan was too strong for seventh-seeded
Argentinian Chela.
He dropped the opening set but fought back in style to triumph 5-7 6-2 6-2 in
this final tune-up for the US Open which begins on Monday.
Srichaphan's triumph came in his third final of the year and a week after he
fell to American James Blake in the title match at Washington.
He has won 10 of his last 11 matches to improve to 29-18 this season and is
the first Asian player to win a singles title since Indian Leander Paes in 1998
at Newport.
Srichaphan, who could face Briton Gerg Rusedski in the second round of the US
Open, said: "It feels great, the people were waiting for Paradorn to win his first title.
I've won the title for the Thai people and the Asian people."
He changed into a red shirt midway during the match, explaining it was a move
to court good luck.
"Red is the inning color for Thai people, especially on Sunday."
He added: "I was really nervous at the beginning and I was playing too carefully.
I wanted to win my first title since I missed the chance last week in Washington," he said.
"After the first set I didn't feel scared; I just went out and played. It
gives me confidence going into the Open."
The Thai meets American Prakash Amritraj in the first round of the US Open.
He had not reached an ATP final before this year and improved to 29-18 on the
season, having won a total of 21 matches in the past two seasons.
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