Kohlschreiber takes Halle title
Source: Agencies |
June 13, 2011, Monday
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GERMANY'S Philipp Kohlschreiber won the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany, yesterday for his third singles title of his career after countryman Philipp Petzschner retired with a back problem.
In the first all-German Halle final since the Wimbledon warm-up event started 19 years ago, the pair slugged it out in an exciting first set before the 27-year-old Petzschner retired, trailing 6-7 (5), 0-2.
World No. 49 Kohlschreiber, who beat holder Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in the last eight and world No. 8 Gael Monfils of France in the semifinals, landed his first singles title since Auckland in 2008.
"It does not really feel like a title win," Kohlschreiber said. "It is a bit of a shame given that we had a really good fight in the first set. Now it kind of feels strange."
Kohlschreiber, who has slipped down the rankings after a mediocre start to the season, clinched the opening set when world No. 71 Petzschner sank a slice backhand into the net.
Petzschner, who won the Wimbledon doubles title last year, had medical treatment after the first set but started feeling more pain in his back early in the second set, pulling out after just two games to hand the title to his rival.
"Today was a day to celebrate German tennis. I think if I had lost the final in a tight match it would have been one thing. But losing it in this way is disheartening," said Petzschner. "At 5-5 in the first set I hurt something in my lower back. Then it started hurting more and more.
"But me retiring should not take anything away from Philipp's victory. He played a great tournament."
A finalist in 2008, Kohlschreiber is the fifth German champion in Halle, following Michael Stich (1994), Nicolas Kiefer (1999), David Prinosil (2000) and Tommy Haas (2009).
It was the first all-German final in Germany since Hans Pohmann defeated Karl Meiler in June 1973 in Berlin.
In London, yesterday's final of the Queen's Club championship between Briton Andy Murray, the second seed, and fifth-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was delayed because of rain.
Murray overwhelmed Andy Roddick 6-3, 6-1 while Tsonga saw off British wildcard James Ward 6-3, 7-6 (7) in the semifinals on Saturday.
Took advantage
In Birmingham, England, Daniela Hantuchova took advantage of a wasteful performance by Ana Ivanovic to win 6-7 (7), 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday and reach the Aegon Classic final.
Ivanovic failed to convert 18 break points and let slip a 5-1 lead in the first set before finally taking in on the tiebreaker.
The former top-ranked Serb had two break points in the fifth game of the second set and five more in the seventh before falling away.
The fourth-seeded Hantuchova handled the important points better, as well as two rain delays, as she reached her 12th WTA Tour final.
"I like playing on grass, and I've had a lot of experience on it, and that certainly helps you to do the right things", Hantuchova said.
Hantuchova will face Sabine Lisicki of Germany in the final. Lisicki beat third-seeded Peng Shuai of China 6-3, 6-1 in the second semifinal.
A former Wimbledon quarterfinalist, Lisicki, meanwhile, is one of four players to receive entries for this year's grasscourt grand slam after a new batch of wildcards were handed out yesterday.
The 21-year-old German reached the last eight at the All England Club in 2009.
The other additional wildcard entry for the women's draw at Wimbledon is Greece's Eleni Daniilidou, who beat Justine Henin of Belgium in the first round of the tournament in 2005.
Israel's Dudi Sela, who made the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2009, and former junior No. 1 Gilles Muller of Luxembourg were handed wildcards in the men's draw.
Wimbledon begins on June 20.
In the first all-German Halle final since the Wimbledon warm-up event started 19 years ago, the pair slugged it out in an exciting first set before the 27-year-old Petzschner retired, trailing 6-7 (5), 0-2.
World No. 49 Kohlschreiber, who beat holder Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in the last eight and world No. 8 Gael Monfils of France in the semifinals, landed his first singles title since Auckland in 2008.
"It does not really feel like a title win," Kohlschreiber said. "It is a bit of a shame given that we had a really good fight in the first set. Now it kind of feels strange."
Kohlschreiber, who has slipped down the rankings after a mediocre start to the season, clinched the opening set when world No. 71 Petzschner sank a slice backhand into the net.
Petzschner, who won the Wimbledon doubles title last year, had medical treatment after the first set but started feeling more pain in his back early in the second set, pulling out after just two games to hand the title to his rival.
"Today was a day to celebrate German tennis. I think if I had lost the final in a tight match it would have been one thing. But losing it in this way is disheartening," said Petzschner. "At 5-5 in the first set I hurt something in my lower back. Then it started hurting more and more.
"But me retiring should not take anything away from Philipp's victory. He played a great tournament."
A finalist in 2008, Kohlschreiber is the fifth German champion in Halle, following Michael Stich (1994), Nicolas Kiefer (1999), David Prinosil (2000) and Tommy Haas (2009).
It was the first all-German final in Germany since Hans Pohmann defeated Karl Meiler in June 1973 in Berlin.
In London, yesterday's final of the Queen's Club championship between Briton Andy Murray, the second seed, and fifth-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was delayed because of rain.
Murray overwhelmed Andy Roddick 6-3, 6-1 while Tsonga saw off British wildcard James Ward 6-3, 7-6 (7) in the semifinals on Saturday.
Took advantage
In Birmingham, England, Daniela Hantuchova took advantage of a wasteful performance by Ana Ivanovic to win 6-7 (7), 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday and reach the Aegon Classic final.
Ivanovic failed to convert 18 break points and let slip a 5-1 lead in the first set before finally taking in on the tiebreaker.
The former top-ranked Serb had two break points in the fifth game of the second set and five more in the seventh before falling away.
The fourth-seeded Hantuchova handled the important points better, as well as two rain delays, as she reached her 12th WTA Tour final.
"I like playing on grass, and I've had a lot of experience on it, and that certainly helps you to do the right things", Hantuchova said.
Hantuchova will face Sabine Lisicki of Germany in the final. Lisicki beat third-seeded Peng Shuai of China 6-3, 6-1 in the second semifinal.
A former Wimbledon quarterfinalist, Lisicki, meanwhile, is one of four players to receive entries for this year's grasscourt grand slam after a new batch of wildcards were handed out yesterday.
The 21-year-old German reached the last eight at the All England Club in 2009.
The other additional wildcard entry for the women's draw at Wimbledon is Greece's Eleni Daniilidou, who beat Justine Henin of Belgium in the first round of the tournament in 2005.
Israel's Dudi Sela, who made the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2009, and former junior No. 1 Gilles Muller of Luxembourg were handed wildcards in the men's draw.
Wimbledon begins on June 20.
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