The Rafael Nadal of the BlackRock Tour of Champions – Sergi Bruguera – won his second successive clay court title to storm to the top of the South African Airways Champions Tour Rankings.

Bruguera maintained his 100% record in Rome as he beat Wayne Ferreira 6-3, 6-4 in the final and will now try to make it three in a row in Hamburg. The BlackRock Tennis Classic starts on Thursday, with home favourites Boris Becker and Michael Stich being joined by Bruguera, Thomas Muster, Henri Leconte and Goran Ivanisevic.

“Two titles in a row is a nice feeling,” said Bruguera.

“I don’t know if I can do what Nadal is doing and win three in a row in Hamburg because I will have to play eight matches in eight days! I don’t know if I can do that!”

Ferreira was disappointed to lose, but satisfied with the way he had taken the fight to the two-time French Open champion.

“It was fun to watch him run side-to-side. I thought he was going to get tired but he never did. I had lots of opportunities to hit my big forehand the way I used to – I love playing like that, but he was just too good.”


RESULTS FOR TUESDAY MAY 15, 2007

3rd/4th Place Play-Off
Henri Leconte d. Michael Stich 6-2, 7-6
The Final
Sergi Bruguera d. Wayne Ferreira 6-3, 6-4


GROUP STANDINGS

GROUP A
Matches Won/Lost (sets)
Wayne Ferreira 3-0 (6-0)
Henri Leconte 2-1 (4-3)
Renzo Furlan 1-2 (3-4)
John McEnroe 0-3 (0-6)


GROUP B
Matches Won/Lost (sets)
Sergi Bruguera 3-0 (6-0)
Michael Stich 2-1 (4-3)
Thomas Muster 1-2 (3-4)
Paolo Cane 0-3 (0-6)

SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS 2007 CHAMPIONS TOUR RANKINGS (after three events)

POS. PLAYER PTS

1 Sergi Bruguera 800
2 Henri Leconte 510
3 Wayne Ferreira 450
4 Anders Jarryd 400
5 John McEnroe 310
6 Cedric Pioline 260
7 Jordi Arrese 250
8 Thomas Muster 160
9 Carl-Uwe Steeb 140
10 Michael Stich 125
11= Pat Cash 80
11= Jeremy Bates 80
11= Renzo Furlan 80
14= Richard Krajicek 60
14= Paolo Cane 60