NEW YORK (Reuters) -World Champion Alysa Liu surprised herself with her first Grand Prix title at Skate America on Sunday, overtaking Japan’s Rinka Watanabe in the free skate by a slim margin at Lake Placid.

The American Liu was less than a point off the lead after Saturday’s short programme and looked stunned as the final results were called, as she had a combined 214.27 points to Watanabe’s 210.96.

Georgia’s Anastasiia Gubanova was third with 204.69.

“To be honest, when I did it – jump wise – I did not feel very good, so that’s why I was confused,” Liu said in televised remarks.

“I thought all my jumps were horrible, terrible. But maybe they weren’t. And also I forget spins and my footwork and choreography, that all has a part in my score – I forget it’s not just jumps.

“I’ll have t

See Full Page