LOS ANGELES: Amelie Mauresmo outlasted Mary Pierce 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-4 in a marathon baseline slugfest to win the WTA Championships on Sunday for the biggest title of her career.

"I really think that's a huge step for me," she said. "I don't know where it's going to take me, but it is a step. You know that it's an important moment."

Mauresmo double-faulted to trail love-40 in the final game, but rallied on five consecutive errors by Pierce in the first all-French final of the season-ending tournament.

When Pierce's cross-court backhand went wide, Mauresmo fell to her knees and clapped her hands to her head as the crowd erupted in applause. She got up and met Pierce on the sideline, where they embraced and Pierce whispered in her ear and kissed Mauresmo's cheek.

"It's just a great reward for me to be able to hold the trophy," she said before heading off to celebrate in a most French way, with some good red wine.

"It's the biggest win, so it has to be ranked as the best emotional moment for me. I'm just proud of what I did. I kept fighting."

Mauresmo, 26, will rise to No. 3 in the final WTA Tour rankings for 2005, behind No. 1 Lindsay Davenport and No. 2 Kim Clijsters. Pierce will end the year at No. 5, her highest ranking since 2000. Mauresmo earned $1 million (euro850,000) for the victory, while Pierce received $500,000 (euro425,000).

Speed vs. touch

For more than three hours, the women moved each other from side to side, with Mauresmo changing speeds and Pierce artfully using drop shots to keep each other on the run.

Pierce and Mauresmo broke each other once in the first set, which Pierce won on Mauresmo's netted backhand.

They traded breaks again in the second, when Mauresmo blew a 4-1 lead and failed to cash in two break points on Pierce's serve in the 10th game. Pierce's cross-court backhand winner helped her hold at 6-all.

In the tie-break, Mauresmo won three straight points to take a 4-1 lead. Pierce closed to 5-3 before her forehand failed and Mauresmo hit a winning backhand to even the match.

Pierce was broken to open the third set, then she won three straight games to take a 3-2 lead. Mauresmo won two of the next three games for 4-all.

Bundle of nerves

Pierce was a bundle of nerves near the end of the 3-hour, 6-minute match at Staples Center. She tugged on her long braid, blew into her fingers, readjusted her top, and towelled off her arms and legs.

Serving at love-40, she hit her next-to-last winner of the match, a backhand that staved off a second break point. But she pulled a forehand wide to trail 5-4.

Pierce held triple break point in the 10th game, but her slew of errors helped Mauresmo close out the match. Pierce had beaten Mauresmo in a three-setter on Friday during round-robin play.

"She was very motivated out there. I could see it, she wanted it," Pierce said. "She knew that she needed to play really well and be aggressive to be able to beat me and she did that."

Pierce hit 11 more winners, but had a whopping 49 unforced errors. Pierce lost just once in five matches in her first appearance in the championships since 1999. She was runner-up in 1997; Mauresmo finished second in the 2003 final.

The results: Singles: Amelie Mauresmo (Fra) bt Mary Pierce (Fra) 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-4. Doubles: Lisa Raymond (U.S.) & Samantha Stosur (Aus) bt Cara Black (Zim) & Rennae Stubbs (Aus) 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-4. — AP

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