Jana Novotna completed her preparations for Wimbledon by defeating Arantxa Sanchez Vicario 6-1, 7-5 Saturday to win the Eastbourne grass-court title.
It was her 21st career title, her second of the year and - most importantly - her first on grass, meaning she has now won titles on every surface."If I do well at Eastbourne, I do well at Wimbledon," said the top-seeded Czech, who received $79,000 for her victory.
NOTTINGHAM OPEN: Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman defeated Byron Black of Zimbabwe 6-3, 6-2 Saturday to win the Nottingham, England, Open grass-court tournament.
Bjorkman, ranked No. 9 on the ATP Tour, is now pointing toward Wimbledon, where he has lost in the first round the past two years.
"For this year, my biggest goal has been Wimbledon," said Bjork-man, who will be seeded No. 11 when Wimbledon opens Monday. "I'm feeling very strong at the moment."
HEINEKEN TROPHY: Top seed Patrick Rafter easily defeated Dutchman Dennis van Schep-pingen 6-3, 6-4, in the semifinals of the Heineken Trophy grass court tennis tournament Saturday at Rosmalen, Netherlands.
Rafter will play unseeded Czech Martin Damm in Sunday's final. Damm beat seventh-seed Jan Sieme-rink of the Netherlands 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.
Also on Saturday, Julie Halard of France won the women's final, easing past Miriam Oremans of the Netherlands in straight sets 6-3, 6-4.