© Mike Baz
Second-seeded Frenchman Fabrice Santoro became only the third player in the history of the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships to defend his title Sunday, after defeating Indian wild card Prakash Amritraj 6-3, 7-5 in the Newport final. The pair’s first career meeting lasted one hour and 15 minutes.

Santoro joins Bryan Shelton (1991-92) and Greg Rusedski (2004-05) as a repeat winner in Newport. He is the first No. 2 seed to have won the Newport title since Johan Kriek in 1981.

The 35-year-old is the eighth oldest ATP champion since 1980. Only Jimmy Connors (four times), Jaime Fillol (twice) and Mark Cox (once) have ever won ATP singles titles at an older age. The last time a 35-year-old won an ATP title was Andre Agassi at 2005 Los Angeles (d. Muller).

After a nervous start, which saw both players break serve in the first two games, it was Santoro who seized control with a second break of the Amritraj serve for a 3-1 lead. He wrapped up the first set in 30 minutes, winning 18 of 27 service points.

The second set went with serve until the 11th game, when Santoro converted his fifth break point opportunity of the match for a 6-5 lead. The veteran clinched his sixth career ATP title with a service hold to love. He improved to 37-29 lifetime on grass courts.

Santoro extended his perfect tournament record to 9-0 and is now 6-6 lifetime in ATP singles finals. Last year he defeated his French compatriot Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 6-4 in the Newport final to add to titles won at 1997 Lyon (d. Haas), 1999 Marseille (d. Clement), 2000 Doha (d. Schuettler) and 2002 Dubai (d. El Aynaoui).

Santoro has a 14-12 on the season, which includes a semifinal exit at Sydney in January (l. to Tursunov).

On Saturday, Santoro beat American Vince Spadea in the semifinals to notch his 450th career ATP singles match win. Only Roger Federer (594), Carlos Moya (557) and Lleyton Hewitt (485) have amassed bigger totals.

The ranking disparity between Santoro (No. 57) and Amritraj (305) at 248 positions was the largest difference in ranking between two participants in an ATP final since Washington, D.C. in 2007 when No. 5 Andy Roddick defeated No. 416 John Isner (a difference of 411).

It was the largest ranking disparity between Newport finalists since 1986 when Bill Scanlon (No. 151) defeated Tim Wilkison (No. 32).

Amritraj was the lowest ranked finalist in Newport history (since 1977). His 305 ranking is nearly 100 points lower than the previous lowest ranked finalist, Mark Philippoussis, who was No. 214 when winning the 2006 title.

The 24-year-old is the first Indian to reach an ATP final since Leander Paes won the 1998 Newport title (d. Godwin). Amritraj is the second wild card in Newport history to reach the final, joining Mark Philippoussis, who went on to win the title in 2006 (d. Gimelstob).

Santoro received a cheque for $64,000 in prize money and 175 South African Airways ATP Ranking points. Amritraj collected $34,000 and 120 points.

Saturday: Santoro Clinches 450th Match Win; Amritraj Next
Friday: Santoro, Spadea to Face Off in Semifinals
Thursday: Santoro Builds On Perfect Newport Record
Wednesday: Indian Qualifier Stuns Fish, Extends 'Casino Curse'
Tuesday: Dancevic Dents Taylor's Comeback
Monday: Young Leads Americans Through

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