Forget continues French celebrations

Guy Forget capped a successful week for French tennis by beating Petr Korda to win the Honda Challenge on Sunday, his second senior tour title of the year.

Forget, who captained France to a shock 3-2 triumph in the Davis Cup final against Australia last weekend, edged out the Czech 11-9 in the deciding champions tiebreak. Both players had won a set apiece -- the champions tiebreak replaces a third set on the senior tour.

"I guess I'm having a happy year ending," said Forget, who came into the tournament suffering from jet-lag and the after effects of the wild celebrations that took place in France earlier this week.

"When I came here I didn't think about winning...but when you're on a roll, it's good."

The 36-year-old Forget took the first set 7-5 with his 10th ace of the match, having gained the crucial break in the 11th game with a blistering service return on the indoor court at the Royal Albert Hall.

But the events of the week caught up with Forget midway through the second set as he had to take a painkiller -- ironically provided by Korda -- for his sore shoulder.

Korda, the 1998 Australian Open champion, tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone at the 1998 Wimbledon championships.

Despite protracted appeals, the 33-year-old was banned for a year and ordered to return the $660,000 in prize money he won while the case was pending. He continues to proclaim his innocence, saying he never knowingly took the drug.

"I needed the pill because my shoulder was sore. I'm not used to playing five matches in five days -- we didn't even do that on the main (ATP) tour," Forget said.

"A lot of seniors carry painkillers because we always have sore shoulders, stiff backs and so on. At one point we joked we should call the tour the Advil Tour."

Although Forget often frustrated Korda with his penetrating serves, the Czech gradually played his way back in and earned his only break-point in the 10th game of the second set.

ACE

But Forget saved it with an ace, prompting Korda to slump to the floor and ask the Frenchman: "Can you hit something other than an ace?"

Korda did go on to win the second set on a tiebreak, belting a forehand crosscourt winner to take it 7-5.

Having saved one match point against him in the deciding champions tiebreak, Forget finally clinched victory with a cross-court winner.

Despite the loss, Korda was happy with his achievement and especially with the support he received from his peers.

"I'm very close to having fun on the court again," said Korda, who earlier admitted the drugs scandal had killed his passion for the game.

"I have to move on. I always live for the present and prepare only for the next day. I just wish I could be a tennis lover as I used to be.

"My body feels great but right now I don't know if I have the desire to do any better.

"But the players on this tour have taken me under their wings... and because these are the guys I respect it's great to be able to share the ups and downs with them."