US tennis legend John McEnroe beat Sergi Bruguera 6-3 6-4 in the final of the Grande Sfida, the Italian leg of the ATP Champions Tour in Modena in front of 5000 enthusiastic fans.
McEnroe, who is now 56 years old, won his last tournament on Italian soil thirty years ago when he beat Anders Jarryd in the ATP event in Milan in 1985. After his third place in the 2014 edition of the Grande Sfida in Milan McEnroe won a tournament of the ATP Champions Tour in italy.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion broke serve in the second game and held all his service games. Bruguera, who is 12 years younger than McEnroe, earned only a break point at 5-3 which McEnroe saved with his service winner.
McEnroe saved break points in the first and inthe third games before breaking serve in the ninth game at 4-3 before serving out for the match. In his professional career Bruguera won two consecutive editions of the Roland Garros in 1993 against Jim Courier in five sets and in 1994 against Alberto Berasategui in four sets. On Italian soil the Spanish player lost his four finals in palermo 1993, Milan 1993 and 1997 and Rome 1997.
“I thank Italian fans. They were unbelievable”, said McEnroe
Mats Wilander beat Henri Leconte 7-5 2-6 10.5 in the final for third place between the two semifinal losers. The clash between Wilander and Leconte was a re-match of the 1988 Roland Garros final won by the Swedish star. Leconte clinched the second set with a forehand passing shot but lost the final four points in the super tie-break. Leconte offered a great show which entertained the 5000 fans.
