Mauresmo halts Huber

It was third time lucky for Mauresmo against Huber

WTA Paris Indoor Open Final: A Mauresmo (Fra) bt A Huber (Ger) 7-6 (7/2) 6-1

Amelie Mauresmo spoilt Anke Huber's dream comeback from a career-threatening injury by winning the WTA Paris Indoor Open.

The home favourite, defeated in the 1999 final by Serena Williams, scored her first victory in three meetings with the sixth-seeded German to take the £60,000 winner's prize.

It took the 21-year-old eighth seed just one hour and 15 minutes to win her first Paris Indoor title on her third attempt.

The world number 19 carried on where she had left off against defending champion and compatriot Nathalie Tuaziat in Saturday's semi-final, which she won 6-2 6-1.

After Christmas I said if it's not okay after two weeks I'll quit

  Anke Huber on her wrist injury

She raced into an early lead after Huber's serve let her down with two double faults in her opening game.

Mauresmo took control, going 3-0 up, but lost four games in a row before getting back in command to take the first set on a tie-break.

She won Huber's opening service game in the second set and broke it a further three times, taking the championship on her second match point.

Fighting mood

She is the fourth French winner in the tournament's seven-year history.

Mauresmo was in fighting mood after a difficult first match against Spain's Magui Serna and coming back from the brink to oust Russian second seed Anna Kournikova 2-6 7-6 (7/4) 6-1.

It was the third WTA title for 1999 Australian Open finalist in her three years as a professional.

Reaching the final was a big achievement for Huber

Huber once again had to settle for being runner-up after losing the 1997 final to Martina Hingis.

The 26-year-old, ranked 16th in the world, has won 12 WTA titles during her career, including two last year.

But then she picked up a wrist injury at the US Open, where she reached the quarter-finals, and struggled so badly to recover from it that she considered quitting the game.

"I was very seriously thinking of giving up," Huber said. "I was told it would be three to six weeks, but after three weeks I couldn't even hold a racket.

"After Christmas I said: 'if it's not okay after two weeks I'll quit', but it was okay so it's good."

Huber, appearing at her sixth Paris Indoor event, picked up a £32,000 consolation cheque.