Querrey keeps nerves to clinch second title, easy for Davydenko
Source: Agencies |
August 4, 2009, Tuesday
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BIG-SERVING American Sam Querrey shrugged off a nervous second set to clinch his second ATP title with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Australian qualifier Carsten Ball at the LA Open on Sunday.
Heavily favoured to beat a player ranked 205th who had never won on the circuit until this week, the sixth seed broke his opponent twice in the third set before ending the final in one hour, 27 minutes.
Querrey, who had upset top-seeded German Tommy Haas in the semifinals, powered down his 11th ace of the match to wrap up victory on a sun-baked afternoon at the LA Tennis Center before thrusting his right arm into the air in celebration.
It was a case of third time lucky for the Californian world No. 32 who had been beaten in the final of his last two ATP events, in Newport and Indianapolis last month.
"This has been one of my favorite tournaments the last four years and it's so great to win here," a beaming Querrey, 21, said in a courtside interview after ending Ball's fairytale run in Los Angeles.
"I didn't want to lose three finals in a row and I was a little worried after that second set but I came back strong in the third. I collected myself and went out in that third set and had a higher first-serve percentage. I didn't want to hit a lot of second serves. That was the key.
"I was favorite to win this match and I was favorite to win my last two finals so there was a little pressure," he added, referring to his two previous finals against world No. 181 Andy Ram and 95th-ranked Robby Ginepri.
"I've also got to congratulate Carsten. He had an unbelievable week and I think we are going to see a lot more of him. He came out of the qualifying, which you don't see too often, and made it all the way to the finals."
Left-hander Ball had to come through three matches of qualifying to book his place in the main draw and did not drop a set until Sunday's final.
In Umag, Croatia, top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko routed former No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-0 to win the Croatia Open and claim back-to-back titles after having captured the German Open.
The Russian has now won 16 career titles. He had returned to playing in Hamburg last week after missing nearly four months due to injuries.
In Washington, Ernests Gulbis of Latvia beat American Kevin Kim 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 to advance to the second round of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic on Sunday.
Heavily favoured to beat a player ranked 205th who had never won on the circuit until this week, the sixth seed broke his opponent twice in the third set before ending the final in one hour, 27 minutes.
Querrey, who had upset top-seeded German Tommy Haas in the semifinals, powered down his 11th ace of the match to wrap up victory on a sun-baked afternoon at the LA Tennis Center before thrusting his right arm into the air in celebration.
It was a case of third time lucky for the Californian world No. 32 who had been beaten in the final of his last two ATP events, in Newport and Indianapolis last month.
"This has been one of my favorite tournaments the last four years and it's so great to win here," a beaming Querrey, 21, said in a courtside interview after ending Ball's fairytale run in Los Angeles.
"I didn't want to lose three finals in a row and I was a little worried after that second set but I came back strong in the third. I collected myself and went out in that third set and had a higher first-serve percentage. I didn't want to hit a lot of second serves. That was the key.
"I was favorite to win this match and I was favorite to win my last two finals so there was a little pressure," he added, referring to his two previous finals against world No. 181 Andy Ram and 95th-ranked Robby Ginepri.
"I've also got to congratulate Carsten. He had an unbelievable week and I think we are going to see a lot more of him. He came out of the qualifying, which you don't see too often, and made it all the way to the finals."
Left-hander Ball had to come through three matches of qualifying to book his place in the main draw and did not drop a set until Sunday's final.
In Umag, Croatia, top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko routed former No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-0 to win the Croatia Open and claim back-to-back titles after having captured the German Open.
The Russian has now won 16 career titles. He had returned to playing in Hamburg last week after missing nearly four months due to injuries.
In Washington, Ernests Gulbis of Latvia beat American Kevin Kim 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 to advance to the second round of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic on Sunday.
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