1.
GV EXTERIOR TENNIS COURT
0.6

2.
GV (INTERIOR) SCOREBOARD. PAN TO ASHE SERVING. BORG WINS RALLY
0.24

3.
GV ASHE SERVES AND WINS AFTER RALLY
0.32

4.
GV CROWD
0.35

5.
G.V. ASHE SERVES. BORG WINS POINT AND MATCH. PLAYERS LEAVE COURT. SCOREBOARD
1.04

6.
GV CROWD
1.07

7.
GV NASTASE SERVES AND VILAS HITS BALL OUT
1.18

8.
GV NASTASE SERVES AND VILAS HITS BALL OUT AFTER RALLY
1.26

9.
GV CROWD
1.30

10.
GV NASTASE SERVES AND PLAYS INTO NET PAN TO SCOREBOARD
1.39

11.
GV NASTASE SERVES AND VILAS PLAYS INTO NET - MATCH TO NASTASE
1.57



Initials gd. 0430



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: After the semi-finals of the Grand Prix Masters' tournament in Stockholm, on Saturday (6 December), Rumania's Ilie Nastase and Sweden's Bjorn Borg emerged as finalists and were matched to battle out the final on Sunday (7 December).

Earlier, in an upset win, Nastase had beaten last year's title-holder, Guillermo Vilas of Argentina 6-0, 6-3, 6-4. In the other semi-final, Borg beat Arthur Ashe of the United States 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 ,6-2.

Nastase, attempting to win the title for the fourth time, gave a dazzling display to defeat Vilas in 100 minutes. From the opening set, Nastase seemed to treat the Argentinean almost contemptuously and the left-handler never showed any real authority.

In the Borg- Ashe match, although Borg took the first set, Ashe seemed to settle in as he took the second set. But then, a series of volleying mistakes and seven double faults helped the nineteen-year-old Swede to maintain command and romp to victory.

Vilas topped the Grand Prix points table and his victories in the series brought him a massive 235,000 U.S. dollars (11,000 pounds sterling).

SYNOPSIS: There was an air of expectancy at Stockholm's Kungl Tennishallen on Saturday for the semi-finals of the Grand Prix Masters' Tournament.

In the first tussle for honours, Bjorn Borg of Sweden met this year's Wimbledon champion, Arthur Ashe of the United States. Down two-five in the final set, Ashe struggled to get on top again.

But the young Swede scored again and won the rally with a passing shot.

But there was plenty of support for Borg.

It was Borg's point and match. And with it, he clinched his place in the final.

Afterwards, the nineteen year old winner said he though Ashe had played better tennis against him when he won the World Championship tennis at Dallas in U.S. earlier this year.

In the other semi-final, Nastase of Rumania and Vilas of Argentina.

Nastase serving to Vilas. An unsuccessful rally for last year's title holder.

Nastase serves again.

Another bad rally for Vilas.

And the Rumanian went from strength to strength.

Nastase serves again.

But this time he was a little careless and the mistake went against him.

The final stages - but the match was all tied up. Throughout, Nastase had treated his opponent almost contemptuously.

With this win, Nastase came one step closer to winning the elusive title he's tried unsuccessfully to capture for the past four years.