Melzer beats Raonic to win title in Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Jurgen Melzer capped his amazing run through the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships with a broken right big toe by beating Milos Raonic of Canada 7-5, 7-6 (4) on Sunday for his fourth career title and first since 2010.
Melzer ran over and hugged his coach, Joakim Nystrom, in the front row after finishing off the victory. Back troubles knocked Melzer from eighth in the world last spring to 38th coming into Memphis.
The Austrian broke his toe Feb. 16 when he caught his foot in a hotel bedspread in the middle of the night. He responded by ousting top-seeded John Isner and No. 3 seed Radek Stepanek before downing the fourth-seeded Raonic, who was trying to win his third title this year and second in two weeks.
“If I play like this to win a tournament, I’ll break a toe any day,” Melzer said.
The 30-year-old Melzer picked up the $277,915 winner’s check in his first win since taking the title in his hometown of Vienna in 2010.
Del Potro beats Llodra in Open 13 final
MARSEILLE, France — Juan Martin del Potro beat Michael Llodra 6-4, 6-4 in the Open 13 final Sunday, defeating yet another French player and winning his first title of the season.
Del Potro, 2009 U.S. Open champion, briefly wobbled while down 0-30 and serving for the match, but the fourth-seeded Argentine closed it out when Llodra netted a forehand.
Llodra, who won in Marseille in 2010, lost his serve once in each set and could not force a single break point chance against del Potro, who hit 11 aces to 10 for the Frenchman.
Del Potro lost to Roger Federer in his last two tournaments, including in the ABN Amro final last Sunday in Rotterdam, Netherlands — where he also beat Llodra in the first round.
The 23-year-old del Potro raised his hands in the air, closed his eyes and then pumped his fists after beating Llodra.
Llodra looked strong on serve in a fast-paced opening set, but del Potro took a decisive advantage when he broke in the ninth game and held serve easily to win the first set.
Del Potro broke Llodra in the fifth game of the second set and held on for a 4-2 lead, meaning the 31-year-old Llodra had too much to do as he tried to vary his game.
David Ferrer beats Almagro to win Copa Claro
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — David Ferrer won the Copa Claro on Sunday, downing defending champion Nicolas Almagro 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in an all-Spanish final.
The fifth-ranked Ferrer earned his 13th ATP tour title.
Ferrer opened the second set with a break and held serve to send the match to a third set.
The second-seeded Almagro had a couple of chances to break in the second game of the final set, but Ferrer held and broke in the next game and again at 3-1.
By wire sources
Melzer beats Raonic to win title in Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Jurgen Melzer capped his amazing run through the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships with a broken right big toe by beating Milos Raonic of Canada 7-5, 7-6 (4) on Sunday for his fourth career title and first since 2010.
Melzer ran over and hugged his coach, Joakim Nystrom, in the front row after finishing off the victory. Back troubles knocked Melzer from eighth in the world last spring to 38th coming into Memphis.
The Austrian broke his toe Feb. 16 when he caught his foot in a hotel bedspread in the middle of the night. He responded by ousting top-seeded John Isner and No. 3 seed Radek Stepanek before downing the fourth-seeded Raonic, who was trying to win his third title this year and second in two weeks.
“If I play like this to win a tournament, I’ll break a toe any day,” Melzer said.
The 30-year-old Melzer picked up the $277,915 winner’s check in his first win since taking the title in his hometown of Vienna in 2010.
Del Potro beats Llodra in Open 13 final
MARSEILLE, France — Juan Martin del Potro beat Michael Llodra 6-4, 6-4 in the Open 13 final Sunday, defeating yet another French player and winning his first title of the season.
Del Potro, 2009 U.S. Open champion, briefly wobbled while down 0-30 and serving for the match, but the fourth-seeded Argentine closed it out when Llodra netted a forehand.
Llodra, who won in Marseille in 2010, lost his serve once in each set and could not force a single break point chance against del Potro, who hit 11 aces to 10 for the Frenchman.
Del Potro lost to Roger Federer in his last two tournaments, including in the ABN Amro final last Sunday in Rotterdam, Netherlands — where he also beat Llodra in the first round.
The 23-year-old del Potro raised his hands in the air, closed his eyes and then pumped his fists after beating Llodra.
Llodra looked strong on serve in a fast-paced opening set, but del Potro took a decisive advantage when he broke in the ninth game and held serve easily to win the first set.
Del Potro broke Llodra in the fifth game of the second set and held on for a 4-2 lead, meaning the 31-year-old Llodra had too much to do as he tried to vary his game.
David Ferrer beats Almagro to win Copa Claro
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — David Ferrer won the Copa Claro on Sunday, downing defending champion Nicolas Almagro 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in an all-Spanish final.
The fifth-ranked Ferrer earned his 13th ATP tour title.
Ferrer opened the second set with a break and held serve to send the match to a third set.
The second-seeded Almagro had a couple of chances to break in the second game of the final set, but Ferrer held and broke in the next game and again at 3-1.
By wire sources