Doi, Berdych, Cilic, Ferrer, Kuznetsova Win Weekend ATP/WTA Titles

Ferrer Remains Perfect in 2015 Finals at Vienna, Gains Ground in ATP Finals Race

He’s not officially in, but David Ferrer took a big step toward qualifying for the ATP World Tour Finals on Sunday when he defeated American Steve Johnson 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 to win the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, Austria.
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“It’s been an unbelievable season, winning five titles and it’s great to be playing well,” said the six-time post-season qualifier Ferrer. “I am in a good position for London, but I have yet to qualify. Certainly, today I took a big step.”

At 5-5 in the third set Johnson threw in a few unforced errors and the Spaniard used his experience to put on some net pressure to leverage the break, additionally helped by a Johnson double fault on break point. “He just had a bit more experience,” Johnson said afterwards. The American starts at 0-1 in career finals, while the Spaniard improved to a perfect 5-0 this year, and 25-25 career.

Berdych Wins 3rd Career Stockholm Crown

Tomas Berdych will take momentum into the ATP Finals after on Sunday capturing his third career Stockholm Open title and extending his match winning streak to 12 after topping American Jack Sock 7-6(1), 6-2.

The top seed did not drop a set throughout the event, improving to a career 12-17 in finals. “[Sock] is doing the right things,” said Berdych after winning his second title of the year in five finals. “He has already had some great results in doubles, which will help him gain experience and improve in singles. He can absolutely be a very dangerous player.”

Sock’s loss stretched to seven years that an American male hasn’t won an ATP title after the US Open. Sock served for the opening set at 5-4 before failing to close it out, eventually falling to 1-1 in career finals after winning Houston on outdoor clay earlier in the year.

In 2014 Repeat, Cilic Wins Moscow but Eliminated from ATP Finals

Top-seeded Marin Cilic defeated No. 2 seed Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday in a repeat of last year’s Kremlin Cup in Moscow, improving to 14-9 in career finals. It was the first final for either player since meeting in Moscow in 2014.

“This tournament is becoming more and more special for me,” Cilic said. “Coming back for a second year in a row and to win it again, it gives me huge, huge satisfaction and huge pleasure.” The Croat improved to a 33-17 win-loss on the year after playing only one event during the first three months of the year due to a right shoulder injury.

This week Cilic was eliminated from contention for the year-end ATP Finals after David Ferrer’s win in Vienna. Bautista Agut dropped to 2-3 in career finals.

Kuznetova Ends Title Drought in All-Russian Moscow Open Final

Svetlana Kuznetsova saved her best for last, winning her first title of the year in the last week of the WTA regular season at the Moscow Open. In the all-Russian final the former world No. 2 ended Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova’s 19-match indoor win streak 6-2, 6-1.

“I wasn’t feeling well,” Pavlyuchenkova said after the match. “There was nothing that could help me before the match to make me feel better. I couldn’t jump very well on my left leg, and that affected my serve. But Svetlana played great today. We are friends and it’s never easy to lose, but she totally deserved that win.”

It was the first title for Kuznetsova since 2014 Washington, and she improved to 1-1 in finals this year. “It wasn’t easy for me to play here in Moscow, because I wanted this title so much. I am not sure how I will spend my prize money, but part of the winnings I will give to [coach] Nastya [Anastasia Myskina], because she deserves it.”

Barthel Says ‘Doi!’ After Japanese Victory in Luxembourg Final

Japan’s Misaki Doi made her first WTA final on Saturday at the BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open when opponent Alison Van Uytvanck was forced to retire after losing the first set 6-4, then won her first title on Sunday when she defeated Germany’s Mona Barthel 6-4, 6-7(7), 6-0.

Doi, who had come into the tournament riding a four-match losing streak, also upset former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic. Van Uytvanck retired from her semifinal with Doi citing a viral illness.

“I’d lost a little bit of confidence, but then I [beat Andrea] Petkovic, and I was feeling good after that,” Doi said of her resurgence. Barthel fell to 3-3 in career finals.