Capriati's poignant tributes

Jennifer Capriati heads for Wimbledon in two weeks' time in search of the next leg of the Grand Slam after winning the French Open title yesterday in a long, hard battle with the Belgian Kim Clijsters in Paris.

Capriati, the fourth seed who won the Australian Open title in January, fought back from an error-strewn performance in the first set to win 1-6 6-4 12-10 after a titanic stuggle to subdue the 12th seed in a 77-minute final set ­ the longest ever in a women's singles finals at the French Open. The match was decided in the end by Capriati making fewer errors in the closing games than Clijsters, who was playing in her first Grand Slam final.

"I just can't believe I have won two Grand Slam titles on the trot," she said after winning in two hours 21 minutes. "When I came here as a 14-year-old 11 years ago I never thought I'd be here now winning the final. Really I am just waiting to wake up from this dream... it doesn't seem like a reality."

Capriati's victory keeps alive her hopes of becoming the first player since Steffi Graf, of Germany, in 1988 to win all four Grand Slam titles in one year (finishing with the United States Open in September) and continues what she refers to as her "reincarnation" after serious personal problems. She said: "I have to thank my family for everything they have done for me. Without them I wouldn't be here. I love them so much."

The words were poignant because it was her family who pulled back Capriati from the brink when teenage rebellion saw her involved with drugs, on shoplifting charges and even contemplating suicide. She left the game for more than two years for rehabilitation and even when she returned it seemed that her weight and emotional problems would prevent her fulfilling the potential she had shown as a youngster.

Capriati dedicated the title to her friend and compatriot Corina Morariu, who is receiving treatment for leukaemia. "I just want her to get well," she said. Capriati has worn T-shirts and held signs with messages to Morariu throughout the tournament.

Clijsters, who was given vociferous support, was philosophical about her failure to capture a first major title. "Of course it's heartbreaking," she said. "I gave everything I had so I can't blame myself. This is just another step in my career."