Berdych, Radwanska shine in Beijing
Source: Agencies |
October 10, 2011, Monday
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TOMAS Berdych fought back to defeat Marin Cilic 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 and win the men's crown at the China Open in Beijing yesterday, while Agnieszka Radwanska beat Andrea Petkovic, 7-5, 0-6, 6-4 to claim her second title in as many weeks.
The victory lifts Berdych past Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to No. 7 in the world standings and gives the Czech valuable points toward the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals.
It was the third-seeded Berdych's first finals appearance of the season after losing in six semifinals, and his first title since Munich in 2009.
"To bring this title really means a lot to me. After 29 months, it's been quite a long time, so I'm happy that I could break this up," said Berdych, whose best performance to date came in the 2010 Wimbledon final that he lost to Rafael Nadal.
Cilic served out the first set emphatically with an ace, but Berdych raced to a 3-0 lead in the second. While the Croat rallied to keep it close, Berdych broke him at 5-4 to win the set and turned the match for good in the third game of the third set.
In the women's final, 11th-seeded Radwanska of Poland recovered after failing to win a single game in the second set in a match lasting more than 2 1/2 hours.
The two broke each other's serves repeatedly over lengthy rallies before Radwanska finally pulled ahead 5-4 in the decider and served out for the win after the ninth-seeded German saved the first match point.
Radwanska took her third title of the year just days after winning the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on October 1.
In Tokyo, Andy Murray reduced Nadal's granite-like resistance to rubble as he rallied to stun the Spaniard 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 and capture the Japan Open yesterday.
It was the Briton's second title in two weeks after winning in Bangkok and ended Nadal's bid to become the first man since American Pete Sampras in 1993-94 to retain the Tokyo crown.
"I played some great tennis, especially in the third set," Murray told reporters after inflicting the dreaded 'bagel' on Nadal in the decider to win his 20th career title.
"That was arguably the best tennis I've played against Rafa," added the Scot, who had lost 13 of his previous 17 matches against the world No. 2.
"Andy played unbelievable. He deserves the title," said Nadal.
The victory lifts Berdych past Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to No. 7 in the world standings and gives the Czech valuable points toward the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals.
It was the third-seeded Berdych's first finals appearance of the season after losing in six semifinals, and his first title since Munich in 2009.
"To bring this title really means a lot to me. After 29 months, it's been quite a long time, so I'm happy that I could break this up," said Berdych, whose best performance to date came in the 2010 Wimbledon final that he lost to Rafael Nadal.
Cilic served out the first set emphatically with an ace, but Berdych raced to a 3-0 lead in the second. While the Croat rallied to keep it close, Berdych broke him at 5-4 to win the set and turned the match for good in the third game of the third set.
In the women's final, 11th-seeded Radwanska of Poland recovered after failing to win a single game in the second set in a match lasting more than 2 1/2 hours.
The two broke each other's serves repeatedly over lengthy rallies before Radwanska finally pulled ahead 5-4 in the decider and served out for the win after the ninth-seeded German saved the first match point.
Radwanska took her third title of the year just days after winning the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on October 1.
In Tokyo, Andy Murray reduced Nadal's granite-like resistance to rubble as he rallied to stun the Spaniard 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 and capture the Japan Open yesterday.
It was the Briton's second title in two weeks after winning in Bangkok and ended Nadal's bid to become the first man since American Pete Sampras in 1993-94 to retain the Tokyo crown.
"I played some great tennis, especially in the third set," Murray told reporters after inflicting the dreaded 'bagel' on Nadal in the decider to win his 20th career title.
"That was arguably the best tennis I've played against Rafa," added the Scot, who had lost 13 of his previous 17 matches against the world No. 2.
"Andy played unbelievable. He deserves the title," said Nadal.
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