Weekend Wrap: Halep, Ferrer, Berdych, Nishikori Win Tennis Titles
Halep Shocks Top Field for WTA Qatar Title
Out of a sterling WTA field, No. 7 seed Simona Halep of Romania won the biggest title of her career on Sunday, defeating No. 6 seed Angie Kerber 6-2, 6-3 for the Premier-level Qatar Total Open championship.
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“It’s amazing for me, because when I came here I didn’t think I could reach the final, or win even,” said Halep, who improved to 7-3 in career finals. “So it’s amazing. It’s the biggest tournament I’ve won.”
Halep beat three Top 10 players at the event including Kerber, and will rise to a career-high No. 9. Kerber fell to 3-7 in career finals. “I made too many easy mistakes at the beginning of the match, but Simona played very well,” Kerber said. “She played at a high level the whole week.”
Berdych Henpecks Cilic for Rotterdam Crown
Tomas Berdych won his first title since 2012 on Sunday, as the No. 3 seed defeating unseeded Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-2 for the championship at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
“It’s been a while, actually 16 months since I won a title,” Berdych said. “To win a title in Rotterdam it’s a nice bonus. I’m extremely happy with the way I handled it throughout the week. I’ve been serving pretty well, which has been the strong part of my game.”
The Czech is now 9-11 in career finals. Cilic dropped to 10-9 in career finals. “What made the difference in the end was that Tomas served really well,” Cilic said.
Nishikori Successfully Defends Memphis Title
Japan’s Kei Nishikori won his first title of the year, and defended a title for the first time, on Sunday in the final of the U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships in Memphis, with the top seed defeating unseeded Croat “Dr.” Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 7-6(0).
“It’s amazing to defend a title for the first time, especially here,” Nishikori said. “I had a great memory from last year and I’m playing great.”
It was Nishikori’s first win over Karlovic in three meetings, and he improved to 4-2 in career finals. In the doubles final the team of Eric Butorac and Raven Klaasen beat top-seeded Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan for the second time this season, winning 6-4, 6-4 for their second title in their third final together.
Ferrer Wins 3rd Straight ATP Buenos Aires Title
The first player to win three straight Buenos Aires titles, top-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer topped the hot-handed No. 2 seed Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday in the final of the claycourt Copa Claro in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
“The last seven finals I lost, and this time I can change my luck so I’m happy for that,” Ferrer said upon ending an 0-7 run in ATP finals. “I try to always do my best and finally I can win again another title.”
It was the fifth consecutive final reached on clay for the Italian Fognini. “It’s always difficult to play against him because he’s a really good fighter, but I’m still happy because it was another great week for me,” Fognni said. “I played my second final in two weeks. I’m in a good way.”
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