SXMElections.com

MARIGOT—Tournament top seed Victoria Bosio from Argentina fell to the unseeded American Usue Maitane Arconada in a riveting Women's Singles Final played at the Alberic Richards Stadium courts on Sunday where the Argentinian struggled with three medical time-outs.

Arconada (16), ranked 22 in the Junior World Rankings, won 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 on the shady No.3 court chosen over the usual No. 1 court. The match was marked by long, powerful baseline rallies. The first set was closely fought but in the second set Bosio found her rhythm again to win it comfortably before having to call the physiotherapist at 3-0 down in the final set for massages and later a twisted ankle. By that time she was in too much discomfort to get back into the match, conceding the last set to the young American.

"I've had some tough matches and I got through them, and this final was one of the toughest," said Arconada afterwards. "This is the first title I've won in a while. I've been playing with good intensity so it's been a good week for me. We were fighting the whole time today and it took a lot of me. I congratulate Victoria for such an amazing match."

She added the medical time outs were distracting and upsetting but she tried to keep moving around to stay warm. Both girls were playing for the first time in St. Martin and move on to the next tournament in Guadeloupe. Arconada said she's focused on building up ranking points and winning in St. Martin gives her 12 points and $900 from the US10, 000 overall prize money.

Said Bosio: "I didn't start well but I had a good second set and in spite of the problems it's been a good week overall."

Tournament supervisor Yann Kuszak called it "a great final with a lot of tension."

"Arconada is still a junior at this first level of a professional tournament so obviously she has a great future ahead of her," he said.

52 players from 15 countries participated in the ITF sanctioned tournament organised by Tennis Club Ile de St. Martin. One player, Julia Moriarty, travelled all the way from Australia. Aside from the tournament supervisor and Chair Umpire Florian Couturier an international referee and three tennis officials from Guadeloupe and Martinique were present.

"It's the first time that we've had more higher-ranked players than ever before which meant a high level of play," said TCISM President Osé Saint Louis Gabriel. "They don't come here for the money but for ranking points which is more important to them."

Gabriel thanked all the sponsors for their contribution and especially main sponsor the Collectivité. The prizes were presented by Priscilla Bade and Territorial Councillors Alain Gros Desormeaux and Louis Fleming.

The Doubles final was won by Alexa Guaracha (5) and Ayaka Okuno (3) who beat Lena Litvak (8) and Sonja Molnar (7) and 7-5, 6-3.