Kuerten wins Heineken Open

Auckland:

Fourth-seeded Gustavo Kuerten showed improving form ahead of next week's Australian Open when he beat Dominik Hrbaty 6-3, 7-5 to win the $380,000 Heineken Open. The win gave the Brazilian former world No. 1 his 18th career singles title and his first win in three meetings with Slovakia's Hrbaty. Kuerten, 26, had beaten seventh-seeded Guillermo Coria in the quarterfinals and Mariano Zabaleta in the semifinals. Kuerten, ranked 37, broke Hrbaty's serve in the seventh game of the first set to lead 4-3 and again in the ninth game to take the set 6-3. Hrbaty saved a break point in the second game of the second set which went with serve until Kuerten broke to take the set and match in the 12th game. (AP)