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Third seed Feliciano Lopez ended his 5-year wait to return to the winners circle at the SA Tennis Open in Johannesburg on Sunday. The 28-year old Spaniard, overcame some tough resistance from Frenchman Stephane Robert in the opening set, before rattling off 7 games in a row to take control of the contest.
Robert, ranked an even 100 in the ATP Tour rankings, is playing the best tennis of his life at the prime young age of 29. Competing in his first ever ATP final, the Frenchman showed no signs of nerves as he hung in under severe examination from the left-handed Lopez to stay on serve in the opening set. Robert's luck ran out in the final game of the first set as Lopez broke him a 5-6 to take a 1-0 lead.
"I hope that this title now will help me to have more confidence in my game, to believe more in myself, so I can get more titles in my career." A delighted Lopez said,
Sunday's Scores:
Singles - Final
[3] F Lopez (ESP) d [8] S Robert (FRA) 75 61
Doubles - Final
R Bopanna (IND) / A Qureshi (PAK) d K Beck (SVK) / H Levy (ISR) 26 63 10-5
PBZ Zagreb Indoors, Croatia
A red-hot Marin Cilic defended his second title of the year and moved to a 15-1 record in 2010 by capturing the PBZ Zagreb Indoors title in native Croatia. Cilic, who had successfully defended his Chennai Open title earlier this year, had a great run in the Australian Open as well, making it all the way to the semi-finals where he was beaten in four sets by Britain's Andy Murray.
In his match last night with German Michael Berrer, Cilic looked a little weary from a hectic start to the season, but was strong enough to pull out the opening set 6-4 courtesy of a break in the fifth game. Games went on serve in the second set, with Berrer upping his first serve percentage from 46 to 74%. Cilic spurned a couple of break points as the set headed into a tiebreak, which the 29-year old German won 7-5.
Cilic lifted his game ever so slightly in the decider, hammering down 6 aces in the third set alone. Cilic broke serve as early as the fourth game, and though Berrer had his chances, Cilic hung on for what he called a "special" win.
Sunday's Scores:
Singles - Final
[1] M Cilic (CRO) d M Berrer (GER) 64 67(5) 63
Doubles - Final
J Melzer (AUT) / P Petzschner (GER) d A Clement (FRA) / O Rochus (BEL) 36 63 10-8
Movistar Open, Santiago, Chile
The clay courts of Santiago, Chile were treated to an exceptionally entertaining see-saw finale between the no.3 seeded Brazilian Thomaz Belluci and the second seeded Argentine Juan Monaco. 22-year old Belluci, who had won his maiden tour title in Gstaad last year, raced out of the blocks to take a 4-0 lead, before Monaco got one break back to edge closer at 2-4. Belluci however broke again and took the opening set 6-2.
The second set was however all Monaco, as he raced through it 6-0 to set up a tantalizing decider. Belluci broke decisively in the 5th game of the final set, and it was enough for him to be able to hold on for an impressive win.
Speaking after the match, the young Brazilian said, "It was a great week. I won some tough matches and I'm happy to win my second ATP title."
Sunday's Scores:
Singles - Final
[3] T Bellucci (BRA) d [2] J Monaco (ARG) 62 06 64
File Photograph Copyright: Dubai Tennis Championship
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