Wimbledon '95: Tauziat profits from Rubin's injury problem

Nathalie Tauziat, of France, won the Direct Line Insurance women's tournament at Eastbourne on Saturday. In just under two hours she overcame the challenge of her injury hampered opponent - the American Chanda Rubin - 3-6, 6-0, 7-5.

The Frenchwoman hit a deeper and more consistent length than the 19-year- old former Wimbledon junior champion who needed treatment for a strained stomach muscle after a second-set whitewash.

Tauziat's superior mobility allowed her to move in for killing volleys while the Louisiana judge's daughter was forced to hug the baseline. Although she has a reputation for tenancity - she saved nine match points against Jana Novotna before going on to beat her in the French Open - Rubin could not respond to Tauziat in the second set.

It was the first major tournament win for the African-born Tauziat, who said afterwards that she won the match for her father who had surgery to remove a tumour earlier in the week.

Rubin, who had beaten the top seed, Kimiko Date, on her way to the final had the consolation of seeing her world ranking climb nine places to No 20.

Virginia Wade, Britain's last Wimbledon singles champion, was impressed with the American's performance and said she expected her to climb into the top five.

Rubin said: "I believe I can do that but I'm not thinking so far ahead at the moment.

"I've had a great week but the final was very disappointing for me. I got the injury as I attempted to serve. It started bothering me at the end of the second set."

"All I could do was try and fight it out," added Rubin, who now faces treatment in an attempt to be fit to meet the Czech Ludmila Richterova at Wimbledon.