Del Potro, Streaking Errani Among ATP/WTA Winners; Weekend Wrap
Errani Streaks with Clothes On for WTA Budapest Title
Italian Sara Errani extended her claycourt streak to 15 wins on Sunday, topping Russian Elena Vesnina 7-5, 6-4 for the Budapest Grand Prix title. It was the third title in a row for Errani.
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“Elena was playing very strong today — my congratulations to her for that,” said Errani, who trailed 5-3 in the first set. “I had to run a lot and fight hard to keep up with her today.”
She is the first player to win three straight WTA titles on clay since Nadia Petrova won Amelia Island, Charleston and Berlin in 2006. Vesnina dropped to 0-6 in career finals.
Kanepi Performs Heimlich on Choking Suarez Navarro for Estoril Title
No. 6 seed Kaia Kanepi topped unseeded Carla Suarez Navarro 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-4 in the Estoril Open final after returning to the tour from shoulder surgery.
Suarez Navarro led a set and 5-3, then blew two match points in the tiebreak, then in the third led 4-2 before running out of chances. “I’ve won a few matches from match points down but I’ve never won a final like this,” Kanepi said. “I’ll remember this final in a good way for a long time.”
Suarez Navarro fell to 0-3 in WTA finals. “I was a point away, but Kaia played really well and credit to her for the way she recovered,” the Spaniard said. “It was a good week for me and I’m motivated to keep working and getting better. I like clay a lot. I’m looking forward to Madrid.”
Del Potro Defends ATP Estoril Title
Top-seed Juan Martin del Potro successfully defended his Estoril Open title on Sunday with a 6-4, 6-2 win over No. 2 seed Richard Gasquet.
Delpo joined Spaniard Albert Montanes (2009-10) and former No. 1 Thomas Muster (1995-96) as back-to-back winners in Estoril. “I felt it was my best match of the week,” said the 23-year-old del Potro. “I play really aggressive all the time and I felt really confident on my forehand.”
Del Potro held serve 33 of 35 service games during the week. The Frenchman Gasquet dropped to 6-9 in career finals.
Second Munich Title on Home Turf for Kohlschreiber
No. 4 seed Philipp Kohlschreiber defeated Marin Cilic 7-6(8), 6-3 on Sunday for the BMW Open title in Munich, his second career Munich title.
“I think we had a tight and great first set,” said Kohlschreiber, who saved seven of eight break points. “Maybe that was the key to the whole match. I had a good start in the second set, making a break and I held it until the end.”
Kohlschreiber improved to 4-2 in career finals, and followed his 2007 title in Munich. It was the second runner-up effort for Cilic in the last three years in Munich, and the Croat fell to 6-7 in career finals.
Seppi Grows a Paire to Capture ATP Belgrade Crown
No. 2 seed Andreas Seppi overwhelmed first-time tour finalist Benoit Paire 6-3, 6-2 at the Serbia Open 2012 to claim the Belgrade crown.
“I think my play was really solid this week,” said Seppi, who improved to 2-1 in career finals. Paire found his first tournament final anything but easy. “I was stressed and tired today,” Paire said. “It’s disappointing that I couldn’t win any easy games with my serve after leading 3-1 in the first set.”
Seppi is now 7-2 for the 2012 claycourt season, raising a trophy for the first time since the grasscourt season last year at Eastbourne.
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