Gasquet, Krunic Lift Grass Titles in Netherlands

Richard Gasquet and Aleksandra Krunic were the unlikely champions on grass Sunday at the Libeman Open in ‘s-Hergotenbosch, Netherlands.
ADHEREL
The 31-year-old Gasquet won his first title since 2016, defeating countryman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 7-6(5). Gasquet was appearing in his second final of the year and improved to 15-15 in career finals.

“It [has been] two years that I didn’t win,” Gasquet said. “It is my 15th, so it is unusual. It is very tough to win on the ATP…I am very happy to win here, it is a great tournament and I am very proud about it.”

Chardy was coming off the grasscourt title at the challenger-level Surbiton Trophy.

“I started my grasscourt season really well with two really good weeks,” said Chardy. “The first tournament [in Surbiton] I won and [I reached] another final this week, so [it is] a lot of confidence for me.”

It was Gasquet’s third career grasscourt title. Chardy dropped to 1-2 in career finals, looking for a first win since 2009 at Stuttgart on clay.

Krunic won her first WTA title as the No. 7 seed, in the final defeating Kirsten Flipens 6-7(0), 7-5, 6-1.

In the semifinals Krunic upset top-seeded CoCo Vandeweghe.

The 32-year-old Flipkens had retired in the Saturday doubles final citing leg cramps.

“I don’t know how you pulled this off, mate, but the fact that you didn’t show how much pain you were in today, makes me respect you more,” Krunic said on-court after the match. “I think we’re both champions, and I’m happy that I was able to stay [in the match]. I was very nervous and it was tough for me to play, but I’m happy that I hung in there.”

Both players pressed the net during the final, as Krunic prevailed with 31 winners to 36 unforced errors. The two players combined for 87 trips to the net.

Krunic is only the second first-time WTA winner this year after Naomi Osaka in Indian Wells.

The 25-year-old 5-foot-4 Krunic was appearing in her second career final after losing at Guangzhou last year. Flipkens dropped to 1-3 in career finals, winning her lone career title in 2012 at Quebec City.

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