Sun, Nov 07 10 11:56 PM
David Ferrer clinched his second title of the year and improved his chances of making this month's World Tour finals when he dismissed Spanish compatriot Marcel Granollers 7-5 6-3 to win the Valencia Open on Sunday.
The world number eight, victorious in Acapulco in February, used his speed and tenacity to good effect against the powerful Granollers.
Granollers, who qualified for the main draw after the injured Jo-Wilfried Tsonga withdrew, was appearing in the second ATP Tour final of his career.
Valencia resident Ferrer edged a tight first set at the Mediterranean city's cathedral-like indoor arena when Granollers failed to return a shot that kissed the baseline.
The 28-year-old, Valencia champion in 2008 before the event switched from clay to indoor hard court, quickly pressed home his advantage, opening a 3-0 lead in the second set.
The break of the Granollers' serve in the second game proved crucial and Ferrer sealed victory on his first match point when his opponent hit a return into the net.
He dropped his racket and tumbled on to his back on the blue court before climbing into the crowd to embrace his family.
"It's a very special day for me that I wanted to dedicate to my parents," he said in a courtside television interview. "I am just filled with joy and speechless."
Ferrer is well placed to clinch one of the three remaining berths at the Nov. 21-28 ATP World Tour finals in London, for which Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Robin Soderling have all qualified.
As of Saturday, Tomas Berdych, Andy Roddick, Fernando Verdasco, Mikhail Youzhny and Juergen Melzer could also still make it, with more ranking points available at next week's Paris Masters event.
Sunday's match was the fifth all-Spanish final this year and Ferrer's is the 20th title for his nation in 2010, with seven of those, including three grand slams, going to world number one Rafael Nadal.
Source: Published>
0 comments:
Post a Comment