Kuerten makes it three colours red

The Brazilian artist and the Spanish artisan played out their specifically appointed roles at Roland Garros yesterday. Gustavo Kuerten, the world number one, and Alex Corretja, the 13th seed, struggled evenly for two long first sets before "Guga" demonstrated why Yevgeny Kafelnikov's reference to him as the Picasso of tennis appeared so apt.

In the end Kuerten also wilfully played the crowd and, as he had done in an earlier round against American qualifier Michael Russell, scratched a heart in the red clay before collapsing into it, overwhelmed, relieved and for the third time the French Open champion, 6-7 (3/7), 7-5, 6-2, 6-0.

With victories in 1997 and 2000, the loose-limbed top seed was winning his third title at Roland Garros. He now joins a select band of five players - Bjorn Borg with six, Henri Cochet with four and Rene Lacoste, Mats Wilander and Ivan Lendl (three each) with three or more French Opens each.

From the beginning, the match looked destined to be a record breaker in length. The first dusty 76-minute affair went with Corretja on a tie break as Kuerten double faulted for the set in a nasty wind, which was at times blowing the surface clay high up into the stadium.

"The conditions at the beginning were like a hurricane," said Kuerten. "All the time the sand kept blowing in my eyes. So, I had to fight him until I felt the ball better and then I was able to play my best tennis.

"It was a little frustrating. I like to play close to the line and my swing is long so I miss more than normal and then I start to play defensive. Also I have contact lenses - that's why I don't like the wind."

There was little respite in the second set as the Brazilian again appeared troubled. Kuerten had made what many felt was a critical error in saying to the media before the match that he could play in anything but the wind. Corretja at that stage was performing like he was aware of the number one's discomfort.

Still Kuerten found some equilibrium and although dropping the first set, took the second 7-5 after two hours and 10 minutes, having saved a critical break point at 5-5 with a typical backhand down the line.

Nothing at that stage suggested how or what would prompt Kuerten to pick up his game to the level that had allowed him, along with Juan Carlos Ferrero, to dominate the clay-court season.

But in the third set Kuerten's rangy backhand began to prick the confidence of the tactician Corretja. The Spaniard, one of the fitter players on the circuit, not only struggled but his dulled spirit displayed a body language which entirely undermined his earlier courageous and dogged determination.

Kuerten, breaking for the second time to snatch that set in just 36 minutes, continued his momentum into what for Corretja would be a doleful and complete collapse in the fourth and for Kuerten a historic win coupled with quite a comedic end to the championship.

"Once I lost the third set I lost my focus. I kind of lost my strategy," acknowledged Corretja.

Kuerten shot to 4-0 up in a burning start, Corretja claiming his first point of the set at 15-40 down in the fourth game. The Brazilian advanced to 5-0, earned three match points and missed them all. One was a wide forehand, the other two `gimme' volleys right at the net. His clownish attempts had the crowd hooting and still he hadn't closed the match. "I saw myself winning all of them but I was so emotional I rushed a little bit more than normal," he said.

The champion followed on by irritating Wimbledon organisers by announcing that as the world number one he'll be going home to Florianopolis with his £450,000 prize money to rest rather than chance the volley-demanding grass of the world number one tournament.

Men's Singles Final: (1) G Kuerten (Bra) bt (13) A Corretja (Spa) 6-7 (3-7) 7-5 6-2 6-0.

Women's Doubles Final: (2) V Ruano-Pascual (Spa) and P Suarez (Arg) bt (16) J Dokic (Yug) and C Martinez (Spa) 6-2 6-1.