Srichaphan Paradorn of Thailand elevated his game to great heights winning his third ATP tour title thrashing Karol Kucera of Slovakia 6-3, 6-1 in 69 minutes to emerge as the 2003 Indian Open champion here on Sunday. Second seeded Paradorn, who started his meteoric rise since he finished as finalist here last year, was right on course from the beginning of the match and remained the only player to win the title without dropping a set in the earlier rounds.

This is Paradorn's third title win inside five months after he had won the Stockholm and Long Island, besides becoming the Asian games gold medalist, all with authoritative wins. The Thai collected $ 54,000 and the trophy, while Kucera took away 31,500 dollars.

The champion took pride in winning an ATP tour title in his own Asian continent and said 'last year I had a good run of victories after final appearance.

I did not expect to do this well in this tournament' Paradorn was tipped to score an easy win but Kucera was not overawed by the situation and did not yield to the pressure. Though Paradorn was one up with a four set win over Kucera in the Australian open in 2000, the Thai played a waiting game, perhaps to wear his opponent out or steady the strong and weak points of the Slovakian. In his first two games, he was almost broken but managed to save a break point each before winning on deuces coming up with remarkable low forehand returns for winners.

As the match started, games went on serve till the seven when Paradorn succeeded in the first opportunity to hold the upper hand. After breaking Kucera in the seventh game easily, Paradorn holding his eighth was superlative. Here he sent down two aces, serving at 200 kmhs to go into the lead 5-3. In the ninth game, Kucera managed to save three set points before surrendering the initiative and the set.

In the second set too, Kucera was under total pressure and was broken in the fourth game at love.

Sensing victory, Paradorn changed his white shirt with a red one to match the shirt colour of his countrymen and women who had gathered in good number in giving their hero a standing ovation and Paradorn walked in with his head high, after bowing to the goodly crowd.