COMMACK, N.Y., Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Paradorn Srichaphan defended his TD Waterhouse Cup crown Sunday with a 6-2, 6-4 win over American James Blake in the final of this U.S. Open tune-up.
The top-seeded Srichaphan, from Thailand, became the third player to win consecutive titles here. Yevgeny Kafelnikov was the first to do it from 1994-95 and Magnus Norman duplicated the feat from 1999-2000.
Srichaphan did not drop a set en route to his second title of the year and fourth of his career.
The 24-year-old plays next week at the U.S. Open where he takes on Cyril Saulnier of France in the first round.
Although he failed to win his second career title, Blake had his best week of the season. He had four wins in a row for the first time since he won the Washington D.C. title last year, defeating Srichaphan in the final.
