The band played, the anthems were sung and the trophies were carried on court. Then came the announcement that Albert Costa had withdrawn from Sunday's final because of a wrist injury, handing the Italian Open title to Marcelo Rios.
It was the second consecutive tour final disrupted by injury, but the first since 1989 that not a single shot was hit in anger. That was when Thomas Muster, struck by a car the previous night, could not play a final against Ivan Lendl at Key Biscayne, Fla.Ironically, Costa had benefited just a week ago when his opponent withdrew in the third set at Hamburg, Germany, giving Costa the title.
Costa hurt his right wrist when he fell during his semifinal Saturday. But he said it only began hurting at night and the final decision was only made a half-hour before match time.
The 10,000 fans at the Foro Italico's center court, unaware up to then, whistled derisively when told there would be no final.
"I just couldn't play," Costa said. "I couldn't hit the ball with power, I couldn't play my game."
"It's not very nice to win a title like that," Rios said, adding that Costa did the right thing to avoid more serious injury.
The Italian Open was Rios' fourth title of the year. He got $350,000.
Rios lost his serve only once during the tournament and did not drop a set, displaying the stinging strokes and all-court game that enabled him to briefly wrest the No. 1 ranking from Pete Sampras.
He dropped back to No. 3 when a left elbow injury sidelined him for five weeks.
Rios' recent play and acknowledged talent will make him a leading favorite in the French Open, which begins May 25. The results of the Grand Slam event could shuffle the top rankings, now headed by Sampras, Petr Korda and Rios.
Until stopped by his injury, Costa had won 11 straight matches. Ranked No. 20, he was unseeded at Rome but always considered a threat on European red clay.
The tournament medical director, Giuseppe Di Giacomo, said it could take up to three weeks for Costa's injury to heal. That puts Costa's participation at the French Open in doubt.
Martinez wins German Open
BERLIN - Conchita Martinez ended an 18-month title drought, winning the German Open Sunday by stopping the surprising run of 18-year French qualifier Amelie Mauresmo.
The little-known Mauresmo, who lost 6-4, 6-4, wasn't disappointed after the defeat, following a week in which she upset world No. 2 Lindsay Davenport and No. 3 Jana Novotna.
"I have no regrets - I had an unbelievable week, with lots of wonderful moments," said Mauresmo, who burst into tears after upsetting Davenport in the second round.
Mauresmo, ranked 65th in the world, fought through 17 sets and seven matches in six days, including the qualifying, just to reach the final.
"Maybe if I hadn't played all those matches, I would have been fresher, but she won the big points," Mauresmo said. "I wasn't nervous - the crowd loved me."
Mauresmo, whose occasional dazzling shots drew wild applause from the 6,000 spectators, became the first qualifier to reach a Tier-One tournament final.
But Martinez was too smooth for the aggressive Mauresmo, who followed a sizzling volley with an easy error. Mauresmo fought off three first set points by rifling winners, then netted easy shots on the next point.
For Martinez, her 29th title was proof that she still ranks among the world's best despite a rough 1997. Last year ended her streak of winning a tournament every year since 1988.