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TENNIS ROUNDUP : New No. 1 Edberg Lives Up to Ranking With 6-1, 6-1 Win

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From Associated Press

Stefan Edberg, who moved up to No. 1 in the world during this tournament, needed only 50 minutes Sunday to defeat Brad Gilbert in the final of the ATP Championship in Mason, Ohio.

Edberg, seeded No. 1, defeated Gilbert, 6-1, 6-1, in a rematch of last year’s final at the Jack Nicklaus Sports Center.

It was the most lopsided outcome of a singles final since the tournament has been played here. Only one game went to deuce.

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“This is one to remember, with all the things that have happened this week,” said Edberg, who has won 17 consecutive matches and his last three tournaments, including Wimbledon.

Gilbert served to open the match and Edberg went up, 30-40, with a backhand passing shot. Gilbert hit a forehand volley long and Edberg was on his way.

The Swede again and held twice to build a 4-0 lead, before breaking Gilbert again to seal the first set.

Gilbert got four points in the first three games of the second set as Edberg took a 3-0 lead.

Edberg collected $170,200, and Gilbert received $89,600.

Top-seeded Jana Novotna’s serve-and-volley game carried her to a 6-4, 6-4 victory over second-seeded Laura Gildemeister in the final of the Virginia Slims of Albuquerque, N.M.

Novotna of Czechoslovakia earned $27,000, and Gildemeister of Peru received $13,500.

Gildemeister, who was down, 5-1, in the first set and, 5-0, in the second, began to get back into the match with some passing shots, but Novotna eventually proved too tough at the net.

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