First for Dementieva

ELENA Dementieva of Russia beat second seed Lindsay Davenport to win her first title in five years as a professional. The 10th seed overcame her obvious nerves to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in two hours and six minutes.

"It feels amazing, like a dream come true," said Dementieva. "I've been waiting for this moment all my life. It's been a very difficult two years," she added.

Davenport had looked on course for a straightforward victory when she led by a set and 4-2, but the 21- year-old Russian suddenly found her range.

After winning a marathon game that lasted five deuces to go ahead 5- 4 in the second set, Dementieva took the upper hand.

Davenport clearly tired and failed to hold any of her last five service games.

Dementieva, who beat fourth seed Daniela Hantuchova and top seed Justine Henin-Hardenne on her way to the final, entered the world's top 15 for the first time in her career when the WTA announced the world rankings on Monday.

FA fury at Beckham

DAVID Beckham's fears that England might have to play behind closed doors in order to curb hooliganism have angered FA bosses, according to reports. The England captain said he thought the problem was "creeping back into the game" and said drastic measures could have to be taken.

But the FA are furious that Beckham made his concerns public.

"His quotes were both naive and stupid," an FA insider told the Sunday Mirror newspaper. "He should have consulted the FA before speaking out on such a sensitive subject."

Beckham spoke out in response to arrests made when England played Turkey at Sunderland earlier in April.