The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Third career title for Davydenko

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 03, 2004

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Third career title for Davydenko

MUNICH, MAY 2 . Russia's Nikolay Davydenko swept past fourth-seeded Dutchman Martin Verkerk 6-4, 7-5 at the BMW Open to win his third career title on Sunday.

Verkerk, last year's losing French Open finalist, made too many unforced errors from the baseline against the unseeded Russian at the $443,000 clay court event.

Davydenko also had no trouble handling 1.98 meter (6-foot-5) Verkerk's big serve. He aced match point to close the match in 97 minutes.

"He returned well,'' Verkerk said. ``Maybe I didn't serve as well as I did in the quarters and semifinals — but I have no problem with the loss. He was better.''

Verkerk wasted an early break in the first set and fell behind 3-2 when Davydenko lifted his game.

Verkerk led 5-4 in the second, but made five straight unforced errors in losing the next two games.

The Dutchman enjoyed a breakthrough 2003 season, reaching the Roland Garros final and winning his first title at Milan. But he has struggled since, and hadn't advanced beyond the second round at any event this year until the BMW Open.

Davydenko, playing his fourth career final, won $61,400 and a new BMW automobile worth $47,700.

``It was hard because whoever won got the car and we were both nervous,'' Davydenko said. ``We had to fight to the finish.''

Meanwhile on Saturday, Verkerk had to fight off a set point before ousting Olivier Rochus of Belgium 7-6(2), 6-3 in the semifinals.

The fourth-seeded Verkerk hadn't survived the second round of a tournament this year after enjoying his best season ever in 2003, a year in which he also claimed his first title.

Verkerk used his powerful serve to decide the first set tiebreaker, then had little trouble against Rochus in the second set.

Venus' great run continues

In Warsaw, second-seeded Venus Williams won her second straight WTA tournament when she beat fourth-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-1, 6-4 in the J&S Cup final on Sunday.

The 57-minute victory was her 11th consecutive win, following her title run in Charleston, South Carolina, and two wins in the United States' victory over Slovenia in the Fed Cup. The run represents her longest winning streak since she won 19 straight matches during the 2002 American hardcourt season.

The triumph was especially satisfying for Williams, who was watched by her mother Oracene, sporting a cast on a broken wrist. It was in the Warsaw final a year ago that a stomach muscle injury forced Williams to retire in the third set.

Jankovic triumphs

In Budapest, eighth-seeded Jelena Jankovic beat Slovakia's Martina Sucha 7-6(4), 6-3 to win the $110,000 Tippmix Budapest Grand Prix at Romai Tennis Academy on Sunday.

Gaudio to meet Robredo

Gaston Gaudio of Argentina will face Tommy Robredo of Spain in the Open Seat Godo final in Barcelona after both players won their semifinal matches on Saturday.

Gaudio, the 2002 champion and seeded 13th, edged Albert Montanes of Spain 6-3, 6-4, while eighth-seeded Robredo eliminated Kristof Vliegen of Belgium 6-4, 6-3.

The results:

At Munich (BMW Open): Final: Nikolay Davydenko bt Martin Verkerk 6-4, 7-5. Semifinal: Martin Verkerk bt Olivier Rochus 7-6(2), 6-3.

At Warsaw (J & S Cup): Final: Venus Williams bt Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-1, 6-4.

At Budapest (Tippmix Budapest GP): Final: Jelena Jankovic bt Martina Sucha 7-6(4), 6-3.

At Barcelona (Open Seat Godo): Semifinals: Gaston Gaudio bt Albert Montanes 6-3, 6-4; Tommy Robredo bt Kristof Vliegen 6-4, 6-3.

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