Tracy Moore reports on an enthralling climax to the season

A final between two claycourt specialists in the prestigious end of season event had hardly looked like setting the pulses racing.

But in fact the match surpassed all expectations as Corretja avenged his straight sets defeat by Moya in the French Open final to triumph 3-6 3-6 7-5 6-3 7-5 after a tense four-hour marathon in Hanover.

"I know how you feel, Carlos," Corretja told Moya after shaking his hand.

Corretja, 24, who became the first Spanish player to win the season's finale since Manuel Orantes' triumph in 1976, earned a huge £850,000 in prize money.

His victory also moves him three places up to third in the year's final rankings.

Moya, the conqueror of Britain's Tim Henman in the semi-finals, pocketed £412,500 and stayed fifth on the ATP Tour list.

Moya feels the heat in a marathon final

Corretja, who provided the shock of the tournament when he beat world No.1 Pete Sampras in the last four, made a sluggish start, dropping serve in his first game when he hit a backhand wide.

He survived three sets points but on the fourth, Moya wrapped up the first set with a forehand volley.

Moya stayed on top in the second set, breaking his opponent to move 2-0 ahead before winning the set on one of Corretja's many unforced errors.

But in the third set, as he faced another straight-sets mauling by his fellow countryman, Corretja suddenly sprang into life.

He earned his first break points of the match in the fourth game of the third set, squandering two before converting the third to take a 3-1 lead.

And though Moya broke back in the following game Corretja, cheered on by an enthusiastic 13,000 crowd packing the Hanover hall, kept fighting until his opponent handed him the set by netting a seemingly straightforward forehand.

Moya virtually collapsed in the fourth set but, refusing to bow out, he picked up his game in a rollercoaster decider, opening up a 3-1 lead.

However, Corretja broke back and served for the match, leading 5-4.

He earned a first match point but Moya saved it with a raging backhand volley and went on to win the game.