Tennis News

In a straightforward encounter, Kei Nishikori only needed straight sets to successfully complete his title defence campaign to become the only non-Spanish player to lift the Barcelona title on two separate occasions.

Nishikori, who played some solid tennis during the week, was faced with a Spanish opponent in the final, Pablo Andujar. While the local talent had the backing of the crowd and showcased a superb effort against the former US Open runner up, he was unable to stop decisive breaks in both sets, and eventually lost the match 6-4, 6-4.

“I’m really happy I’m able to defend the title,” said Nishikori. “I think the second set was extremely tough and I don’t really know how I won it to be honest. Pablo was very aggressive, he kept moving the ball and made me run up and down all the time. I also tried to be aggressive and I think that’s why I won the important points, but I’d say he played better than me.

“I think this victory on clay and in such a difficult tournament gives me a lot of confidence to face the upcoming competitions. It’s just an amazing feeling to win a title. I have to come back to Barcelona.”

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Although Andujar had pulled off an impressive upset of David Ferrer in the previous round, he was unable to deny Nishikori a successful title defence. In the end, he fell to 3-4 in tournament finals.

“It was a great, high-quality final,” said Andujar. “We were both playing well. I played better in the second set and I felt I deserved something more, but what happened was I let some opportunities pass. I believe that I could have won but here we are. I feel I played my best tennis this week.”

In a remarkable performance and exceptional usage of momentum from the last few weeks, Angelique Kerber ousted Caroline Wozniacki to win the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix event on Sunday.

It was a highly antiticpated final to the 2015 editon of the Premier-level tournament, as both competitors had played some fantastic tennis to reach this stage of the event. Kerber had ousted three-time defending champ Maria Sharapova, while Wozniacki eliminated the No. 2 seed Simona Halep to secure her spot in the final. Following a grueling back-and-forth affair, it was Kerber who raised her hand in victory.

The German was forced to rally back from a set down to beat Wozniacki 3-6, 6-1, 7-5. It was a dramatic performance and conclusion to the match, as Wozniacki held a break lead at 5-3 before Kerber reeled off the next four games to win the title.

Kerber extended her undefeated streak to 11-0 on clay so far this season, including two title wins.

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“A few days ago I said clay is actually not my favorite surface, but right now I think I will change my mind,” Kerber said. “I’ve played very well on clay the last few days and weeks. I feel good that I have had so many matches on clay, and now I’m looking forward to the next tournaments before Paris.”

If Wozniacki was to leave without the title, she was glad it happened to a good friend of hers on the tour.

“It was small things today that made the difference,” Wozniacki told the crowd. “I had 5-3 in the third set and 30-all, and it could have gone both ways, but she took her chances and it went her way.

“We’re great friends, we hang out a lot and practice a lot together, and it’s always nice to play a friend in a final. You obviously want to win, but if you don’t win, it’s still nice that your friend does.”

For the fifth time in his career, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez lifted a title on the ATP World Tour, this time in Bucharest.

On Sunday afternoon, the Spaniard stepped across the court from touted youngster Jiri Vesely, whom he edged in straight sets to lift the BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy. He won the match 7-6(5), 7-6 (11) to secure his fifth title on the tour.

“I feel like I’m doing the right things to improve my game and my ranking,” said Garcia-Lopez. “When you work hard, there is always a reward, not only in tennis, but in life in general.”

The second set in particular was a competitive affair, as Vesely rallied back from a 4-0 deficit in that set and traded breaks with the Spaniard before losing in a gruellingly close tiebreaker.

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“It was complicated for me to close the match,” said Garcia-Lopez. “I was feeling nervous, a lot of things crossing my mind, but in the end I was happy to win. It is the first time in my career that I’ve won two titles in a year.”

Garcia-Lopez received 80,000 Euros and 250 Emirates ATP Ranking Points, while Vesely took home 42,100 Euros and 150 points.

“I’m at the beginning of my career and a success here in Bucharest would have meant more for me, but that’s life,” said Vesely. “I will clearly be here next year and hopefully I will have better luck then.”