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Thomas Johansson became the first back-to-back winner of grass-court
tournaments since Pete Sampras two years ago when he added the Samsung Open
title to last week's Gerry Weber Open crown in Nottingham.
Sampras secured his own second leg in the rather more prestigious environs of
Wimbledon's centre court but Johansson's form over the fortnight means he goes
to the All England Club marked down as a very real threat to the American's
hopes of making it five in a row.
Aside from a minor blip in the first half of the second set, Johansson's 7-5
6-3 victory over Israeli Harel Levy bore all the hallmarks of a measured and
powerful grass-court performance which can take him far on the lush lawns of
SW19.
Johansson, semi-final conqueror of Greg Rusedski on Friday, said: "I'm
hitting balls really well this week but to win a Grand Slam is something really
big and really different to winning here.
"But I am not feeling that tired, I am fit and healthy and today I felt great
the whole match. I have never played as solid as I do now. I think I can win a
few matches."
Broken back immediately after coasting into a 3-1 second set lead, the Swede
quickly recovered his poise and there was no way back for baseliner Levy second
time around when Johansson rattled through a magnificent backhand passing shot
and set himself up to serve for the championship.
Johansson will now jet down to London but has more pressing matters on his
hands before he begins his Wimbledon quest with a tough opener against Romanian
Andrew Ilie on Monday.
"Tonight I will go back to my hotel and go to London. Then I have to do my
laundry."
When Levy's disappointment at losing his second ATP Tour event final has
dissipated he will look back favourably on a week in which he added the notable
scalp of Andy Roddick to those of Pete Sampras and Tim Henman this year.
And the young Israeli said he would be approaching Wimbledon with confidence.
He said: "I maybe wasn't focused as much today but I will be very satisfied
with my performance this week.
"It is very difficult to play Johansson when he is serving so consistently
and moving so well. He is very difficult to play on grass.
"This week has taught me a lot about playing on grass, I used to think it was
something you only played football on but I quite like it now."
And Levy said he hoped his success and his continued rise up the rankings
would spark a surge in interest in the sport in his native land.
"It was live on TV in Israel and people are getting to know who I am now,"
he added. "Because of that there are more people interested in tennis and that
of course is a good thing."
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