Unseeded Kenneth Carlsen wihtstood 15 aces from No. 8 seed Max Mirnyi to claim the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships title with a 7-5, 7-5 win. The Dane opened up the match holding serve easily and had four break points at 2-2 that Mirnyi was able to overcome. Both players held serve consistently to reach 5-5, where Carlsen converted his second break point of the game by attacking the net and hitting a backhand volley winner. He went on to close the set winning the next four consecutive points including an ace on set point.  

Carlsen continued his strong playing in the second set and had two break points in the third game, but Mirnyi was able to overcome them with an ace and a serve winner. At 4-5, Carlsen saved one set point with a powerful ace down the middle of the court and tied the set at 5-5. In the eleventh game at 30-40, the Dane hit a blasting backhand return setting up an easy volley winner to break Mirnyi's serve. Serving for the match at 6-5, Carlsen saved one break point at 30-40 and converted his first match point to win the match.   

Kenneth Carlsen claimed his third career title and his first since 2002 when he defeated Max Mirnyi 7-5 7-5 in the title match of the Regions Morgan Keenan Championships in Memphis. The win draws the series between Carlsen and Mirnyi even at one win apiece. Carlsen is now 3-4 in ATP finals in his career. In addition to Sunday's win, Carlsen owns titles from Hong Kong in 1998 (d. B. Black) and Tokyo in 2002 (d. Norman). This is his first indoor title.

This was the fifth appearance for Carlsen in Memphis. He is 8-4 all-time since debuting here in 1994. Carlsen joins Rafael Nadal, who won Saturday night in Costa do Sauipe, as the first left-handed ATP winners since Feliciano Lopez claimed the title in Vienna in October 2004.

The 31-year-old Carlsen is the first over-30 winner of an ATP title since 34-year-old Andre Agassi claimed the title at the ATP Masters Series in Cincinnati.

"This one (Memphis) and Tokyo is something special. When you win a tournament is always somehing special. It's amazing. That's what you worked for. It makes everything worthwile." Carlsen said. 

On playing big servers all week:  "It definetely prepared me because I've been playing players with with big serves all week. Especially the first two matches was good preparation for this one because they serve and volley and they are trying to come in as much as possible. In the quarterfinals against Gambill, he serves very well but stays back. Max played the same way as the first two matches so that was good preparation for this match."

On having defeated Stefan Edberg in Wimbledon: "Edberg was special for me because I grew up watching Wimbledon and to be able to play in central court and beat a former champion was a great experience. It was special and I'm thankful to have that experience."

Mirnyi moves to 1-2 in finals, all three of which have been indoors. His only career title came at Rotterdam in 2003. His only other final appearance was at the ATP Masters Series event in Stuttgart in 2001. Mirnyi fired 89 aces this week, for an average of 17.8 per match. Mirnyi entered the tournament averaging 13.2 aces per match for the year.

This was the second appearance for Mirnyi in Memphis. He now owns a 4-2 record all-time here.

For his career, Mirnyi is now 72-48 (.600 winning percentage) on indoor courts, and 113-117 (.491) on outdoor courts.

" It was a competitive match today . I felt like I certainly  had my chances. He play good enough sometimes, sometimes I was not good enough to take him but that is the way  it goes. He came away with the win and certainly deserves it." Mirnyi said.

" He just picked his points and really went aggressive on the return. He was so far back and was just swinging at my big coming serve. He was fortunate enough to connect and make very good returns. I was not counting on it because is not one of his strenghts, to be this from this far back and swinging is not a very high percentage play, but it worked for him today and it happened to be at the same time on both sets."

On having played singles and doubles semifinals while Carlsen advance with a Walk Over: " Is nothing different. We got to do  that week after week, so we are adapted to it.  Certainly, it would have been nice to be somewhat fresher and have more of a hop to step. We are in the same shoe, he did get a walk over yesterday but what can you do."

THE PLACE TO BE….. Feb. 11 – 20 ….. is The Racquet Club of Memphis. Ten days of world class tennis awaits you. Help serve an ace to the players, the Memphis community, and the children of St. Jude by purchasing tickets to the always-exciting event.

To purchase your tickets and receive additional information, call Carolyn Hicks at 901.685.ACES or visit the tournament website www.atptennis.com/Memphis