Querrey, Jovanovski Highlight Wacky Non-Olympic Tennis Weekend

Sam Querrey and Bojana Jovanovski captured tennis titles over the weekend in odd fashion as the top players were in London competing at the Olympics.
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The American Querrey gave a “welcome to the pros” pounding to first-time finalist Ricardas Berankis, defeating the Lithuanian 6-0, 6-2 in the Farmers Classic final in L.A.

“I feel like I always play well here,” said Querrey after his forehand-fest. “I grew up kind of playing around this area and I’m really comfortable out there on the courts. It’s fun to play in front of my friends and family. It all came together this week, and especially today.”

Querrey is now tied with Andy Roddick for the lead in the US Open Series. It was the third L.A. title for Querrey.

Berankis became the first Lithuanian-born player to reach an ATP final.

“My nerves were playing me in the first set, that’s for sure,” Berankis said after the damage. “I didn’t play as I would like to play. But in the second set, a couple games here and there, I loosened up a little bit.”

The 20-year-old Jovanovski of Serbia beat American Julia Cohen 6-3, 6-1 for the Baku Cup title in Azerbaijan, with TV coverage showing an oddly 95 percent empty stadium during the event.

“I’ve worked really hard for this,” Jovanovski said. “I had two weeks of really hard preparation before this tournament, so I was expecting to play well here.”

It was the first final for both players. Cohen had lost in the qualifying of 34 WTA events in a row.

“It feels really good to get to my first WTA final,” said Cohen who had an odd American college career, playing No. 1 for the Florida Gators as a freshman, and then transferring to the University of Miami, then the University of California at Pennsylvania before turning pro. “I was a bit tired but she played really well. I hope next time I can win. Obviously I’m so disappointed that I lost, but I have to be happy that I got to the final.”