Hewitt stuns Federer; Li takes crown
Source: Agencies |
June 14, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
EIGHTH-SEEDED Lleyton Hewitt beat Roger Federer for the first time in 16 matches to win the Gerry Weber Open title yesterday.
The 29-year-old Australian won 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 in his first final of 2010. Hewitt last beat Federer in 2003 at the Davis Cup in Melbourne.
Top-seeded Federer, who was chasing his sixth title in Halle, Germany, had won his previous 29 matches at the Wimbledon warmup tournament.
It was Hewitt's first appearance at Germany's only grasscourt tournament.
After cruising through the previous four rounds without dropping a set, Federer met his match in the battle between two former world No. 1's.
"It's fantastic," Hewitt said after the two-hour, 20-minute contest. "Roger is a hell of an opponent and everybody knows how good he is on the grasscourt. His record speaks for itself and I just got lucky."
Before yesterday, Federer had been defeated on grass just once since 2003, that coming in the 2008 Wimbledon final against world No. 1 Rafael Nadal.
In Birmingham, England, top-seeded Li Na beat Maria Sharapova 7-5, 6-1 yesterday to win the grasscourt Aegon Classic and claim her first title this year.
Sharapova lost to Li in the semifinals of last year's tournament and the Chinese player produced a repeat performance 12 months on, winning her maiden title on grass.
"Last year I beat Maria in the semifinals and then was so excited I forgot I had another match," Li said.
"I'm excited again. If I had another match this time, I think I would probably lose that too."
Second-seeded Sharapova won here in 2004 - the year she won Wimbledon - and again in 2005.
Sharapova broke Li early and led 3-1 but then found it increasingly hard to land her first serves.
Once Li broke back for 3-3, she got on top and by the start of the second set, Sharapova's confidence had dipped.
The Russian player, who had seven double faults in total, was outmaneuvered in the baseline rallies as Li hit a number of brilliantly struck drives from both wings to close out the victory.
The 29-year-old Australian won 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 in his first final of 2010. Hewitt last beat Federer in 2003 at the Davis Cup in Melbourne.
Top-seeded Federer, who was chasing his sixth title in Halle, Germany, had won his previous 29 matches at the Wimbledon warmup tournament.
It was Hewitt's first appearance at Germany's only grasscourt tournament.
After cruising through the previous four rounds without dropping a set, Federer met his match in the battle between two former world No. 1's.
"It's fantastic," Hewitt said after the two-hour, 20-minute contest. "Roger is a hell of an opponent and everybody knows how good he is on the grasscourt. His record speaks for itself and I just got lucky."
Before yesterday, Federer had been defeated on grass just once since 2003, that coming in the 2008 Wimbledon final against world No. 1 Rafael Nadal.
In Birmingham, England, top-seeded Li Na beat Maria Sharapova 7-5, 6-1 yesterday to win the grasscourt Aegon Classic and claim her first title this year.
Sharapova lost to Li in the semifinals of last year's tournament and the Chinese player produced a repeat performance 12 months on, winning her maiden title on grass.
"Last year I beat Maria in the semifinals and then was so excited I forgot I had another match," Li said.
"I'm excited again. If I had another match this time, I think I would probably lose that too."
Second-seeded Sharapova won here in 2004 - the year she won Wimbledon - and again in 2005.
Sharapova broke Li early and led 3-1 but then found it increasingly hard to land her first serves.
Once Li broke back for 3-3, she got on top and by the start of the second set, Sharapova's confidence had dipped.
The Russian player, who had seven double faults in total, was outmaneuvered in the baseline rallies as Li hit a number of brilliantly struck drives from both wings to close out the victory.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
