Capriati claims French Open crown

Capriati fights back to win the French Open

J Capriati (US, 4) beat K Clijsters (Bel, 12) 1-6 6-4 12-10

Jennifer Capriati edged a thrilling deciding set to overhaul Kim Clijsters and win a hard-fought French Open final in two hours and 21 minutes at Roland Garros.

It was the American's second consecutive Grand Slam triumph and she becomes only the fifth woman to complete the Australian and French Open double.

But she was made to work very hard for her victory by a battling Clijsters, who had chances to win the championship herself.

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The Belgian got off to a flying start and took the first set by a 6-1 margin.

And when Capriati bounced back and began to find her powerful range, Clijsters raised her game and answered with fierce winners of her own.

Capriati did win the second set, after securing a vital break in the fifth game, but she was thwarted twice in the third when serving for the match.

Finally though, at 11-10, the American made her greater experience tell.

She won an enthralling and exhausting third set - the longest in the history of French Open women's finals - with a crosscourt forehand on her second match point.

The tennis played in the final capped what had been a disappointing women's tournament and was appreciated by a royal audience at Roland Garros.