The Beast Tames Local Favorite

Despite a vocal home crowd, Max Mirnyi defeated Rotterdam product Raemon Sluiter to win the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament.

Belarus' No. 1 player, Max Mirnyi, captured the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, Sunday, winning his first career ATP singles title by defeating local product Raemon Sluiter of Rotterdam in one hour and thirteen minutes. Currently 46th in the ATP Entry Ranking, Mirnyi becomes the first player from Belarus to claim an ATP singles title.

The only break of serve during the whole match came at 2-2 in the second set and Mirnyi took advantage after winning the first set in a tiebreak. The 25 year-old Belarrussian beat Mario Ancic, Ivan Ljubicic, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Roger Federer en route to the final.

Mirnyi was previously known as a doubles specialist, winning US Open titles while pairing with the current singles World No.1's Lleyton Hewitt and Serena Williams. And he has 13 doubles titles.

But the man they call "the beast" has now come into his own in singles as well. Mirnyi became the fifth player this season to win their first ATP singles championship. Other players who have done it this year are Nikolay Davydenko (Adelaide), Hyung-Taik Lee (Sydney), Martin Verkerk (Milan) and David Sanchez (Vina del Mar). It wasn't until Barcelona last year that the fifth player won his first ATP title.

Sluiter was appearing in his second ATP final. Sluiter's first ATP final was in 2000, when he reached the final on clay in Amsterdam.

On the 30th anniversary of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament, a minute's silence was held in memory of Wim Buitendijk.

What the players said
Max Mirnyi: "Most importantly I feel as though there is a big monkey off my back. Today was a big pay off mentally. For many years people were saying that I was capable of winning tournaments and today I did. It is also special for me because I won my first title here in Rotterdam where there was a very strong field. It is a very reputable tournament and all the players want to come and compete here."

"I thought it was special that the trophy was presented by Tom Okker, the first winner of the trophy. When you look at the past champions -- Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker to name but a few -- it is certainly a big honour to be among them."

Rating the difference between this title and the three doubles Grand Slam titles: "Doubles is doubles -- you are sharing the title with someone else. I am really happy to have this title in the cupboard."

On being the first Belarussian to win an ATP singles title: "I am very happy to have done something for my country. Hopefully people in Belarus will be encouraged by the result."

Raemon Sluiter: "It's disappointing to lose here but in a way it was a dream to play a final in my hometown -- a dream that represented a great week of tennis in which I thought I played terrifically."

"Losing is a tough part of being a tennis player, but we all have to accept it. Max (Mirnyi) was playing very well but I had my chances, I just failed to take them. In the first game of the match, I created my only break of serve."

"During the tiebreak, he found incredible rhythm from the baseline. I played aggressively, but missed the crucial points that decided the tiebreak. At 5-4 in the second set, I was out to play for everything or nothing. It's the only thing you could do with a score like that."

"I want to see my name on the banner of past winners that circulates center court. It will be done within a couple of years."

"Playing at ATP tournaments is like a roller coaster for me. One week I lose in the first round, the next I reach the quarterfinals or even the final. I have already started well on achieving my goal for the coming months to reach the Top 50. Once I'm there, I'll set my eyes on reaching the Top 30."