Kuerten climaxes feat on clay

The Brazilian, who with the possible exception of Andre Agassi stands among tennis history’s’s most colourfully-dressed champions, started the fortnight in 66th place in the world rankings but his success here has already vaulted him into the top 20.

For a set and a half, Bruguera saw only a blur of blue and yellow on the opposite side of the net as the agile Brazilian produced a marvellous array of winners to lead by a set and 3-1.

He then had to withstand a brief fightback from Bruguera, saving three break points to lead 5-4, but the way he skipped back to his chair after that game correctly suggested Bruguera’s first grand slam final defeat was imminent.

“I felt so good out there,” said Kuerten, who dedicated his triumph to his deceased father after completing victory in one hour 50 minutes. “When I lost him I was just eight years old and I didn’t expect to be a tennis player,” he explained. “This tournament goes to him.”

The Brazilian was even polite enough to wipe his feet free of clay dust before going up to receive the trophy and the cheque for $ 695,500, more than double the amount he has earned in his career to date.

He has never won a senior title before and the final was only the 49th match of his professional career. But the staggering inventiveness and touch he showed against Bruguera suggested Brazil have a new champion to be proud of for years.

Parisian crowds appreciate style more than most, but what Kuerten may lack in terms of sartorial elegance on the court, he more than makes up for with his sense of adventure.

He also has the precious commodity of luck on his side and Bruguera grew increasingly frustrated at the number of times the ball bounced the Brazilian’s way off the net-cord.

It was clearly a case of fortune favouring the brave, though, and the skinny Kuerten also produced two of the sweetest drop shots imaginable in the sixth game of the final set to earn himself a 4-2 lead.

“It’s just unbelievable. I didn’t expect this to happen,” said Kuerten, who has German ancestry on one side of his family and must be one of the few professionals in any sport to take tactical advice from his grandmother.“She likes to talk to me and give me some tips,” admitted Kuerten. “My coach is a little bit worried.”