After a week in which he has taken the long road to success, Flavio Saretta took a short cut to the XL Capital Bermuda Open title yesterday.

Having emerged victorious in three sets in his previous three matches, including Saturday's semi-final against Hyung-Taik Lee, the Brazilian saw off Vince Spadea in two (6-3, 7-5) in a performance full of grit and determination.

It must be said, though, that that the normally efficient Spadea, did his best to help the South American.

The Floridian, who beat Israel's Noam Okun in straight sets in the final four, had not lost a set at Coral Beach until this encounter, but choked at crucial points - particularly when leading 5-2 in the second.

But that fact should not be allowed to take anything away from 21-year-old Saretta who, on artistic merit alone, deserved to walk away with the $14,400 first prize.

“I feel very happy,” he said afterwards, flanked by girlfriend Roberta. “This is the biggest tournament that I have won.

“I played so good today. I played a good first set, and although in the second set I was a little tired, I kept playing, playing, playing.

“He lost two serves and that enabled me to win in two sets.”

Spadea was made to work from the off, saving a break point in the opening game before Saretta put a forehand volley out.

The next five games went with serve but then Spadea's game unravelled following an outrageous, and totally unintentional, shot from his rival.

A Spadea forehand rocketed skywards off the frame of Saretta's racquet. So high did the ball go that the American would have had time to go for a refreshment break before it came down on his side of the court. However, when it did he unbelievably put a smash out.

He lost two further points cheaply and a double fault handed the first break to Saretta.

Saretta served out to love in the next game to take a 5-3 lead and when the ball hit the top of the net and dropped agonisingly back onto Spadea's side at 15-40 in the ninth the American's record of this week was broken.

Saretta saved three break points in the third game of the second set after the first two had gone with serve but the pendulum was to swing Spadea's way, albeit temporarily, as this part of the match wore on.

Spadea held his serve and then broke Saretta for a 3-2 lead and an aggressive service game from the more experienced player in the next saw him stretch his advantage.

By now, those who had seen Saretta towards the end of the week were anticipating, and dare I say hoping for, a three set match.

Those thoughts looked like being confirmed when Spadea broke for 5-2 and only needed to hold his own to level proceedings.

However, Saretta, a baseline artisan, secured a pacey double-handed backhand winner down the line and followed it up with a backhand cross court to establish break point.

After getting there, though, he didn't have to break sweat to achieve it as Spadea served a double fault.

Saretta, who led the tournament in aces with 23 before yesterday, sent another bullet past his opponent to get to within one game.

And he was level after the next in a game which saw him set up break point with a thunderous forehand that knocked Spadea's racquet clean out of his hand.

Saretta held his serve and the pressure was then well and truly on Spadea.

But there was to be no fightback and no third set, Saretta, sensing his opponent was wounded as he delivered three quick blows that wrested whatever hope Spadea had left away from him.

At match point someone in the crowd shouted out ‘Let's go USA' and it was unclear whether they meant it as a rallying call or a cue for Spadea to catch his plane.

He clearly took it to mean the latter, serving a double fault and ensuring the spoils went to Saretta.

“I was not in my best form and he played better than I did today,” said Spadea afterwards. “I just didn't execute my shots. I expected better but sometimes that happens. So let's move on and hopefully I'll get it next time.”

Spadea, who was second behind Saretta in aces, admitted the major weapon in his armoury had let him down just when he needed it most.

“I think the crucial points were my service games in the second set. If I had closed them out it could have made a big difference,” he said.

The loss aside, Spadea said he had enjoyed his time in Bermuda and it boded well for the future.

“I had a great week and had some chances today and could have turned it around and gone to a third set,” he said. “I'm getting closer all the time and it's great to put weeks like this together.”

Saretta said he was surprised with the way the match ended, having expected it to go the distance with Spadea establishing such an advantage in the second set.

“When he was 5-2 up I was tired and I wasn't playing so well,” he said. “Then I broke and held my serve (in the next game) and I started to play better.

“I was preparing just to play the game out at 5-2 because I was thinking of the third set. But he lost his serve, I won mine and I started to believe again.”