NEW YORK - 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 to rewatch my performance and then I'll see how I feel."

Liu, who came out of retirement in 2024, appeared totally in control during the free skate despite a couple of under rotations, with an early triple Lutz-triple toe combination.

A favourite of the U.S. fans, she sent cheers through the stands with a gutsy triple Lutz double Axel double toe sequence and gave the crowd a thumbs up as the judges rewarded her with a season's best score of 140.54.

Watanabe followed with a brilliant, technical performance that included a fine triple Axel-triple toe combination.

She kept her composure when she slipped on the takeoff for a triple Axel early in the programme and landed awkwardly, the only obvious blemish in a performance that broadcasters at first believed would net her the gold medal.

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Reigning world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates claimed a record-tying fifth Skate America title in the ice dance, bringing the house down with a Flamenco-themed free dance for a combined score of 212.58.

Canadians Marjorie Lajoie and ...