Pioline a Winner at Monte Carlo

Cedric Pioline became the first French player since 1963 to win the Monte Carlo Open, beating Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia, 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (6), in the final Sunday at Monaco.

“I am really proud to win because there is a great tradition here,” said Pioline, who moved well despite a steady rain. “I am a bit old but I will be back.”

The 30-year-old Frenchman is the first from his country to win this clay-court tournament since Pierre Darmon. Pioline has twice been a runner-up in Grand Slam events--the 1993 U.S. Open and 1997 Wimbledon. This was the fifth title of his career.

Pioline, seeded eighth in the $2.95-million tournament, earned $400,000 for the victory.

“It was very tough because Dominik played really well,” he said. “I am running like when I was 20. I am really enjoying what I am doing. That is why I am still playing.”

Pioline made only 36% of first serves in the opening set. He opened with a service break, but Hrbaty later rallied to make it 4-4. Pioline broke back and held for the first-set win.

In the second set, Hrbaty composed himself, saving three break points at 3-3, but Pioline broke him at love to make it 4-4. Pioline, serving for the second set at 5-4, took a 30-0 lead but lost the next four points before dominating the tiebreaker.

Hrbaty was serving for the third set at 5-4, but Pioline did not fold. The Frenchman made the most of his first break point of the set. The 11th game lasted 17 minutes, with Pioline holding after nine deuces and going on to take the tiebreaker.

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Top-seeded Mary Pierce, who finished off a week of dominance by breaking one of Chris Evert’s records, easily beat Spain’s Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, 6-1, 6-0, to win the Family Circle Cup at Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Pierce, who earned $166,000 for her first title of the season, lost only 12 games during the tournament. That topped the record of 15 by 1985 champion Evert.

“This has been a great, great week for me,” said France’s Pierce, who won the final match in 57 minutes. “I’ve just become more and more relaxed and more at peace with everything that I do.”

The Spaniard, who won this title in 1996, was helpless against Pierce’s powerful serves--which often topped 110 mph--and hard forehands.

“The first set was much closer than it showed,” Sanchez-Vicario said. “But once Mary was on a roll, she didn’t miss much.”

Pierce quickly ended Sanchez-Vicario’s hopes in the second set. Pierce won 12 consecutive points during one stretch--and 14 of the final 15--smashing forehands deep into the corners as Sanchez-Vicario stood and watched.

This was the last Family Circle tournament be held at Hilton Head. It is moving north to Charleston next year. It has been at Hilton Head since 1973, when promoters first offered an unheard-of $100,000 in prize money.