ROTTERDAM: Tomas Berdych won his first ATP tournament title since October 2012, beating Marin Cilic of Croatia 6-4, 6-2 Sunday in the ABN Amro final.
”After such a long time of waiting and not having one, this is a great moment for me,” the third-seeded Czech said.
The match appeared to turn in the in the second game of the first set, on the Berdych serve, when Cilic had three breakpoints.
With the game at deuce, Berdych appeared to have won a long rally, but Cilic complained that the ball had been damaged during play.
The umpire agreed and instructed the point to be played over. A relaxed Berdych was able to make light of the situation and went on to win the game
”I think that was the key to the match,” Berdych said afterward.
He broke Cilic in the following game as the Croat hit two consecutive returns into the net.
In the second set, Berdych’s serve was becoming an increasingly potent weapon and his play became increasingly confident, prompting Cilic to throw his racket into the air in frustration after one lost point.
”It was a tough one, even if it doesn’t look like it from the score,” Berdych said. ”I mean Marin is playing really well, his game is really on top the last couple of weeks.”
Cilic came into the match having won the PBZ indoor tournament last week in Zagreb and ousted two top-10 players in Rotterdam – Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Andy Murray – on his way to the final. (AP)
Halep wins first title of 2014 by beating Kerber
DOHA: Seventh-seeded Simona Halep of Romania won her first title of the year with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over sixth-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany in the Qatar Open final on Sunday.
It’s the seventh career title for Halep, with the other six all won last year.
”I think it’s the best, because it’s the biggest tournament which I won,” Halep said.
For the first time Halep defeated three top-10 players at the same event – No. 7 Sara Errani in the quarterfinals, No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska in the semifinals, and the ninth-ranked Kerber.
Halep, who had a first round bye, nearly lost her opening match of the tournament before defeating Kaia Kanepi in a third-set tiebreaker in the second round. (AP)