Prakash Amritraj's dream run at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships ended after second seed and defending champion Frabrice Santoro handed a straight-set defeat to the Indian in the finals of the USD 385,000 event in Newport.
Santoro became the second player since 1990 to win an ATP event after his 35th birthday.Amritraj, the son of three-time Newport winner Vijay Amritraj and a wild-card entry, was the lowest ranked player to reach a Newport final. India's Davis Cup member entered the week 305th in the world, and he became the first Indian to play in an ATP final since Leander Paes won Newport 10 years ago.
Santoro is ranked 57th and had not won an ATP title since beating compatriot Nicolas Mahut in last year's Newport final. He earned 64,000 dollars for the win.It marked the sixth ATP singles title for Santoro.
There was disappointment for India in the doubles competition as well with fourth seeds Rohan Bopanna and his Pakistani partner Aisam-ul Haq Qureshi losing 4-6, 6-7 (1) to the unseeded American duo of Mardy Fish and John Isner in the finals.
