Associated Press

Hamburg, May 15:

Top-ranked Roger Federer beat French teenager Richard Gasquet 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 on Sunday to defend his Hamburg Masters title and collect his tour-leading sixth championship of the year.

By avenging one of only two losses this year, Federer stretched an Open era record — he has now won 19 consecutive finals.

By winning his third Hamburg Masters in four years, Federer improved his record for the year to 41-2. Going back to the beginning of last year’s US Open, Federer has a 57-2 record. Federer took early control and never relinquished it, although Gasquet was no pushover.

Italian Open

ROME: Amelie Mauresmo fought back to defend her Italian Open title on Sunday with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over eighth-seeded Patty Schnyder.

After trading breaks early in the second set, Mauresmo became more aggressive after a verbal exchange with chair umpire Romano Grillotti.