Del Potro Stops Fedex in Basel for 2nd Straight ATP Title, Ferrer Wins in Valencia
Del Potro Stops Fedex in Basel for 2nd Straight ATP Title, Ferrer Wins in Valencia
Basel
ATP Basel
Juan Martin Del Potro denied Roger Federer his 6th Basel title with a 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 upset win in a topsy-turvy match. It’s Del Po’s 2nd straight title and he is playing like a champ right now—beating Alejandro Falla, Brian Baker, Kevin Anderson and Richard Gasquet earlier in the week.
Federer beat Benjamin Becker, Thomaz Bellucci in 3 surprisingly tough sets, Benoit Paire, and semi finalist Paul-Henri Mathieu! After dropping the final, Fed withdrew from ATP Paris, citing the need to rest before the World Tour Finals. That gives Novak Djokovic the year end number 1 spot.
In doubles, Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic are back after a breakup. They took the bigger hardware over Treat Conrad Huey and Dominic Inglot. This marks Nestor’s 80th career doubles title. UVA Grad Huey will be competing in the Charlottesville Challenger this week.
ATP Valencia
David Ferrer won his 6th ATP title on the year at his home event 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 over Alexandr Dolgopolov in the other three set final of the weekend. Earlier in the week, Ferrer tore through Olivier Rochus, Albert Ramos and Nicolas Almagro before dispatching surprise semifinalist Ivan Dodig in three.
Dolgopolov made his second ATP 500 final and continued his rollercoaster year, beating Filippo Volandri, Gilles Muller, Marcel Granollers and semi finalist Jurgen Melzer all in straights.
Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares beat David Marrero and Fernando Verdasco for the doubles title, their 3rd together in the fall campaign.
—Steen Kirby
2012 CitiOpen ATP Champion: Dolgo Does DC
Dolgo Does DC
It took CitiOpen two-seed Alexandr Dolgopolov three sets and a lengthy rain delay, but he earned a tough victory over the tenacious Tommy Haas 6-7, 6-4, 6-1 yesterday in Washington. “The Dolgo” or as I call him, Mr. Slap Chop, won his first career ATP World Tour 500 event and he did it by beating one of the hottest players on the ATP tour right now. While he dropped the first set in a tiebreak, a set that was interrupted by a rain delay, he fought hard to break and take the second set. He then took a frustrated Haas to the cleaners in the third and waltzed his way to the title.
In order to get to the final, Dolgo beat Flavio Cipolla, Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo, James Blake in a slugfest, and Sam Querrey in close one. Dolgo hasn’t had the finest year, but this victory makes it a whole lot better for him and he will have plenty of momentum going into the hardcourt season.
Haas, who lost his second straight ATP final, beat Michael Russell, Leonardo Mayer, Tobias Kamke and top seed Mardy Fish to reach the final.
–S. Kirby
