Week 7: Rotterdam [Boros], Brazil [Altman], San Jose [Murdoch], Bergamo [Cobos]

[vic_orthdox]

Haha, first crack at a final. Getting blood here.

In the middle of the uni library, ftr. Quite awkward.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

An impressive sight for all in attendance, no doubt

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Internazionali di Tennis di Bergamo
Day 7 - Finals - Bergamo

Men's singles: Finals - Quarter 1 - Quarter 2 - Quarter 3 - Quarter 4
Men's doubles - finals

Three Italians were in action on finals day, which had attracted nearly a thousand people to the hall in Bergamo, but they walked home frustrated as all home hopes threw away gilt-edged chances. A fit Michael De Kinsele opened his singles final charge with some stunning backhand returns and opened up a 3-0-lead in the first set account, which he defended to take the first set 6-2, but then imploded. Emelio Cobos had an easy task of taking home the final 2-6 6-1 6-4.

In the doubles, favourites Roël Hervelle and Jerzy Kosecki showed good on-field communication and some laudable grit to avoid a late charge from home hopes Massimo Prodi and Pablo Scalforo. The Italians had lost the first set 7-5, but looked to take the match into a super tie-break with an early break in the second set. Both the Belgian and the Pole were active in returning serve, however, and broke back in the fifth game and didn't let the hosts in again. Final score 7-5 6-4.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Brasil Open
Finals Day - Costa do Sauípe (Brazil)

Men's singles (Seeds - Finals - Top Half - Bottom Half)
Men's doubles (Seeds - Draw)

• World No. 9 Illya Altman has successfully defended his Brasil Open crown by coming from a set back to down second seed Randy Smeltz in the final. With both players coming into the final on the back of convincing semi final victories, it was Smeltz who got the early lead as he brought up break point with a backhand winner. Altman failed to save it as he sent a cross court backhand into the net, and Smeltz took a 3-1 lead. He met some real resistance in the next game as Altman stepped it up a gear, but failed to convert either of his break points to hand Smeltz a commanding 4-1 lead. The top seed, though, was showing dangerous signs and with a break two games later moved to 3-4; holding to level the scores. But he could not remain in the set as a crucial double fault handed Smeltz an opportunity; one he did not miss out on as he claimed the set 6-4 with a drop volley.

Altman knew he needed a strong start to the second set to have any chance of retaining his title and got the break he needed in the fifth game; a break he consolodated to take a 4-2 lead. That was half of a four-game streak that saw him surge to the second set 6-2 with some aggressive forehands that were uncharacteristically missing in the first set. That meant the match was to head to a third and deciding set, and it was Altman who had all of the momentum. He created several break point opportunities for himself early in the set, but the dogged determination of Smeltz allowed him to hang on. But in the ninth game it became all too much as Smeltz finally cracked under the pressure of a 28-shot rally and Altman easily held to retain the title 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
​

• Seeded players out:
  
  Randy Smeltz.

• In the doubles final, top seeds Carlos Machado & Dênis Rodrígues claimed their first title as a team as they beat finals debutants Mario Acosta & Gonzalo Castro. After a tense first set, the local duo broke away from the Uruguayans to take eight of the last ten games to secure a 7-5, 6-2 win.

• Seeded players out: None.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

SAP Open
Finals Day- San Jose, CA (United States)

Men's singles (Seeds - Finals - Top Half - Bottom Half)
Men's doubles (Seeds - Draw)

• Local favourite Dwayne Murdoch has put an end to the stunning run of Scotland Rivers to lift the SAP Open title in California. The former World No. 9 had already picked up some big victories this week, but many tipped Rivers to continue his exceptional recent form into his first PTA final by taking a maiden championship. He needed a good start, though, and got that straight away as he broke Murdoch's serve with his first break point to take a 2-0 lead. But he could not maintain it, and the fantastic returning of Murdoch allowed him back into the match as he stepped inside of a short second serve to level the scores at 3-3. Rivers started looking decidedly shaky under the pressure of a high quality player on the other side of the net, and the wobbles again struck at 4-5 as he handed Murdoch three set points with a forehand that went about three feet long. Though he saved two of them, Murdoch was able to prevail in a long rally with a double-handed backhand down the line to take the first set 6-4. Rivers was up again up against it, but unlike his other matches this week could not answer in an aggressive fashion as the World No. 15 coasted through the second set. With his first championship point, Murdoch's drought without a title finally came to an end 6-4, 6-2.

• Seeded players out: None.

• The doubles final was a bit of a letdown as the amazing run of wildcard entrants Dean Delgado & Andrew Madera was put to rest by a dominant third-seeded pair. Morton Blundell & Wayne Boyd cruised to a first title together; winning 6-1, 6-4 despire a spirited comeback from the underdogs.

• Seeded players out: None.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Bah, humbug. Rivers of tears as we speak.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament
Finals Day - Rotterdam (The Netherlands)

Men's singles (Seeds - Finals - Top Half - Bottom Half)
Men's doubles (Seeds - Draw)

• The frustrating form of Danijel Micic continued as he failed to take his opportunities in a straight sets loss to second seed József Boros in the Rotterdam final. The World No. 21 came into the match on the back of a big win over his compatriot Radivoj Daneu in the semi finals, and found himself serving for the first set at 5-3. He had a set point, but failed to convert it; dropping three of four games as the Hungarian took the set to a tiebreaker. There, the World No. 7 took advantage of his comeback to break away early and to convert his first set point with a typically compact forehand down the line. The second seed continued to play solid but aggressive tennis in the second set, and looked good doing it as Micic began to look more and more unruly in his shotmaking. After a week of high quality tennis, he racked up worrying amounts of unforced errors and fell quietly out of the match as Boros sealed the first PTA 500 tournament of the year 7-6(3), 6-3. Micic has since withdrawn from next week's Marseille tournament, and is on the entry list for Dubai before Serbia's first round Davis Cup match against Belgium.

• Seeded players out:
  
  Danijel Micic.

• There was some consolation for Micic later that afternoon as he and makeshift partner Jojo Mustard came from a set down to beat second seeds Sandro Bachunelli & Hicham Hadir. Mustard has shown why he is one of the premier doubles players in the world as he combined with the inexperienced doubles player Micic to oust the top three seeds in sensational fashion, but they did it tough against the Wimbledon champions after dropping the first set 6-3. Micic, in contrast to the singles final earlier in the day, looked more at ease in front of a smaller crowd and served solidly to cause the Italian-Moroccan duo real difficulties. Taking the second set 6-3, the title was to be decided under super tiebreaker rules. In a tense affair, the second seeds saved three championship points before finally wilting 3-6, 6-3, (10-7).

• Seeded players out:
  
  Sandro Bachunelli &
  
  Hicham Hadir.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Bah, humbug. Rivers of tears as we speak.

Certainly picked a fine name for punning.

 

[Mister Wright]

Very happy with my performance in the doubles. Glad to finally break the hoodoo of CWers in finals this week too. Bring on Memphis.

 

[Simon]

Thats bull****

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Very happy with my performance in the doubles. Glad to finally break the hoodoo of CWers in finals this week too. Bring on Memphis.

Looks like I might have to go all Tonya Harding on Micic's arse.