Woodies shoot to top place

Woodies shoot to top place

JAKARTA (JP): Australia's strong tandem of Todd Woodbridge and
Mark Woodforde earned a confidence-booster ahead of their French
Open tennis championships when they won their third straight
title to lead the ATP Tour world doubles rankings over the
weekend.

The Woodies claimed their 26th title in the U.S. Clay Court
tournament in Coral Springs, Florida, by beating the Spanish team
of Sergio Casal and Emilio Sanchez 6-3, 6-1. Woodbridge went
ahead to take the singles with a 6-4, 6-2 win over big-serving
Canadian Greg Rusedski.

The Australians received an additional 140 points to move four
places ahead to the top of the world doubles rankings with 1,404
points, edging previous frontrunners Grant Connell of the U.S.
and Patrick Galbraith of Canada, now in the second spot with
1,392 points. The American-Canadian duo made an early exit at the
Italian Open last week. (amd)