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Sjeng Schalken from Holland is the new Brazil Open Champion 2003. He claimed the title after beating German No1 Seed Rainer Schuettler 6/2 and 6/4, Sunday, 14th Sept - the match lasted one hour and 17 minutes. This was the first time the final had not involved at least one Brazilian: in 2001 Fernando Meligeni was runner up, and last year Gustavo Kuerten claimed the title.
Today's victory will earn Dutchman Schalken 35 points in the Champions Race (where all the year's results are counted) plus US$52,000 in prize money. The runner up will bank US$30,600 and 24 points.
Schalken is having a good year, with this being his third victory so far - he won the ATP's in Prague and Hertogenbosh. The victory here in Brazil takes his career total to nine.
The two finalists today had met each other four times previously, with the German losing all but one of them. The last time they met was in the last sixteen at the US Open.
Schalken started the match with something of an advantage. His semi-final against Gaston Etlis ended after just ten games due to the Argentinean's injury. Schuettler meanwhile had to work his way through three sets to break down the skill and experience of Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten.
Schalken was clearly feeling confident from the first game and managed to break serve in the third and seventh. The solid baseline play that had served Schuettler so well was just not apparent today and after 35 minutes he found himself a set down at 6/2.
The second set was not as straightforward for the Dutchman. Schuettler managed to break his serve in the second game, then tried to focus on the low returns hoping to attack Schalken's lesser ability with bended knee. The tactic didn't pay off and Schalken broke back in the seventh. The set ended at 6/4 after 39 minutes, and with his 2-0 victory confirmed, the Dutchman was able to think about flying up the ATP rankings as Brazil Open Champion 2003.
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