that’s a wrap! Week of June 11th
AEGON Classic
Women’s Singles – (Q) Melanie Oudin d. (5/WC) Jelena Jankovic 64 62
Melanie Oudin won her first career WTA title in a rain-delayed final in Birmingham on Monday, becoming the fourth qualifier to win a WTA title this year after Mona Barthel (Hobart), Kiki Bertens (Fes) and Su-Wei Hsieh (Kuala Lumpur).
“…I felt I was getting better and better each match. And I didn’t want to get excited about any of the wins this week, because I wanted to keep it going,” Oudin said. I’ve learned a lot about my game, how I want to play, how to play within myself and not trying to do more than I can. That’s what I did really well all week.”
Oudin, whose struggles have been well documented since her Cinderella run to the quarterfinals of the 2009 US Open, came into Birmingham at #208 in the rankings and was unseeded in the qualifying event. With rain wreaking havoc on the week’s play, both players were forced to complete their quarterfinal and semifinal matches on Sunday. Oudin took out both fellow American Irina Falconi and Russian Ekaterina Makarova in three tough sets, and Jankovic took out Misaki Doi and fought back from a set down to take out Zheng Jie. Oudin’s performance in Birmingham brought her a main draw wildcard for Wimbledon, where she made the fourth round in 2009.
Jankovic, playing in her first final since Cincinnati in 2011, fell to 12-15 in WTA finals.
Timea Babos and Su-wei Hsieh picked up the women’s doubles crown, taking out top-seeds Lisa Raymond and Liezel Huber 75 67(2) [10-8], rallying from 8-4 down in the match tiebreak.
Gerry Weber Open
Men’s Singles – (WC) Tommy Haas d. (2) Roger Federer 76(5) 64
Tommy Haas defeated Roger Federer for the first time since 2002 to win the Gerry Weber Open for the second time in his career. Federer was looking to win his sixth title at the event, last raising the trophy in 2008.
“I don’t have many words to say really, except that it is an amazing feeling to win another title in Germany…It’s probably up there if not the sweetest one considering the injuries, considering not knowing how much longer it would really go or if I can actually get back to a certain level,” Haas said. “Then seeing how I played this week on grass here and beating Roger. It’s probably up there.”
Haas, 34, has been ranked as high as #2 in the world, started the season outside the top 200 after missing 14 months due to hip surgery. He returned to the top 100 last week after qualifying and reaching the third round at Roland Garros. He rallied from *13 down in the opening set, and then broke Federer in the ninth game of the second set on his way to sealing the victory. Haas improved to 13-9 in ATP finals, having won eight straight.
Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Jean-Julien Rojer won the doubles title, defeating Treat Conrad Huey and Scott Lipsky 63 64.
Gastein Ladies
Women’s Singles – (7) Alize Cornet d. (2/WC) Yanina Wickmayer 75 76(1)
Alize Cornet won her second career WTA title, four years after her first in Budapest in 2008. With top-seed Julia Goerges knocked out in the opening round by Richel Hogenkamp, the draw opened up for Cornet, who won the title without dropping a set.
Cornet, who peaked at #11 in the rankings in 2009, was ranked #73 coming into the tournament. She served from behind in both sets, at *45 in the first and *56 in the second, but hung tough, sealing the match in a tiebreak when Wickmayer netted a forehand.
“It has been four years I haven’t won a singles title, so it’s just happiness now. I’m so happy,” Cornet said. “It’s been a super week. I really love this tournament. I love the people here and I feel everybody loves me as well. I’m not Austrian, but I feel like I’m Austrian when I’m here. It’s my favorite tournament.”
Cornet improved to 2-3 in WTA finals, after finishing runner-up to Francesca Schiavone in Strasbourg, and Wickmayer fell to 3-5 in finals.
In the doubles final, fourth-seeded Goerges and Jill Craybas took out top seeds Petra Martic and Anna-Lena Groenefeld 67(4) 64 [11-9].
AEGON Championships
Men’s Singles – (6) Marin Cilic d. (10) David Nalbandian 67(3) 43 def.
Marin Cilic was crowned champion at the AEGON Championships at Queen’s Club after David Nalbandian was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct towards a line umpire. Nalbandian, angered after missing a forehand return, kicked a signage board surrounding the baseline line judge’s chair; the board shattered and impaled the man’s shin, drawing blood. Cilic had regained momentum in the match, rallying from *13 down to take the lead in the 2nd set. Nalbandian was stripped of prize money and ranking points he earned for making the final, was fined the maximum $12,560 and is facing police inquiry.
“I never intended to hit him, it was an unfortunate reaction in which I wanted to let off steam after losing a point,” Nalbandian said. “I had the opportunity to personally apologise to the line umpire for this regrettable act that I am fully responsible for.”
Watch the carnage below.
In the doubles final, top-seeds Max Mirnyi and Daniel Nestor took out second-seeds Bob and Mike Bryan 63 64.
Filed under: Alize Cornet, ATP, David Nalbandian, Jelena Jankovic, Marin Cilic, Melanie Oudin, Roger Federer, Tommy Haas, Trophy Case, WTA, Yanina Wickmayer | 1 Comment
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