Gaudio Reclaims Clay Magic with Vina del Mar Title
Posted on February 7, 2005Top seed and current French Open holder Gaston Gaudio defeated defending champion and No. 2 seed Fernando "Gonzo" Gonzalez 6-3, 6-4 for his first title of the year Sunday at the ATP stop in Vina del Mar.
It was the sixth career title for Gaudio, who has won 26 of his last 29 matches on clay.
"I might have not played the best of my tennis today but with Fernando it is very difficult to play it's best since he is always leading," Gaudio said. "It depends on his game. But the important thing was to win a tournament like this that I had so close to win it before."
The Chilean Gonzalez saved four match points in the final game before finally succumbing before the home crowd.
In the doubles final Saturday, unseeded Spaniards Dave Ferrer/Santiago Ventura ousted top-seeded Argentines Gaston Etlis/Martin Rodriguez 6-3, 6-4.
It was the sixth career title for Gaudio, who has won 26 of his last 29 matches on clay.
"I might have not played the best of my tennis today but with Fernando it is very difficult to play it's best since he is always leading," Gaudio said. "It depends on his game. But the important thing was to win a tournament like this that I had so close to win it before."
The Chilean Gonzalez saved four match points in the final game before finally succumbing before the home crowd.
In the doubles final Saturday, unseeded Spaniards Dave Ferrer/Santiago Ventura ousted top-seeded Argentines Gaston Etlis/Martin Rodriguez 6-3, 6-4.