NORMAN'S CONQUEST BEST OF TOURNAMENT

Norman's conquest of Mirnyi came in the longest - and best - match of the tournament so far. The duel featured a stark contrast of styles and an ebb and flow that had the crowd nearly as exhausted as the players by the end.

Mirnyi camped at the net at every opportunity, testing Norman's firepower after every second serve from the Swede. The Belarussian rushed the net 173 times, winning 92 of those points.

Norman came to net just 18 times, making good on 16 of his forays.

In the 12th game of the fifth set, trailing 5-6, Norman netted a forehand passing shot to fall behind 15-40 for double match point.

A service winner and a beautiful backhand lob over the ever-charging Mirnyi rescued Norman, who won the next two points as well to force the tiebreaker.

Norman stormed out to a 5-2 lead in the tiebreaker, but the big Belarussian won the next three points to level it at 5-5. Each player saved a pair of match points in the tiebreaker, Norman wriggling out of the second one with yet another delicately struck backhand topspin lob that Mirnyi could only look up at in wonder.

After rifling the last passing shot of the match, one that left Mirnyi sprawling on the hard court, Norman sank to his knees and pumped his fist before pulling off his red shirt and shouting in triumph.

"Obviously it was a great match. One of the most thrilling I have been a part of," said Norman, winner of four tournament titles this year. "I'm just happy that I'm here as the winner. It could have gone either way.