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.

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