World Tennis News – Paszek comeback seals AEGON International crown

This week’s edition of World Tennis News looks back at grass court successes for Tamira Paszek and Andy Roddick at the AEGON International and David Ferrer and Nadia Petrova at the UNICEF Open in the Netherlands. 

Paszek comeback seals AEGON International title

Tamira Paszek won the AEGON International title at Eastbourne after a thrilling three set victory over fifth seed Angelique Kerber.  The unseeded Austrian saved five match points before completing a gripping 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 victory after two hours and 45 minutes.

World No.8 Kerber had begun the stronger by jumping out to an early 3-0 lead in the first set but was pegged back to 3-3.  Games went with serve until the twelfth game when a Paszek backhand drifted long to give Kerber the opening set after 54 minutes.

Paszek raised her game to build a 4-1 lead in the second set.  Kerber reduced the deficit to one break but was broken again in the ninth game as Paszek unleashed a backhand winner up the line to level the match.

Kerber broke to lead 3-2 in the decider and held onto the advantage to build a 5-3 lead.  With Paszek serving in the ninth game the German fifth seed held five match points but was denied each time by tenacious play from Paszek who struck clean winners to save three of them.

Paszek broke Kerber as the German served for the title at 5-4 and then saved a break point to lead 6-5.  In the twelfth game Kerber fought off two match points but struck a forehand long on a third as Paszek sealed a memorable victory for her third WTA singles title.   

Stat Attack – Paszek

• The Austrian had only won 2 matches on the WTA tour in 2012 entering Eastbourne
• The 21 year-old is now just two spots off her career high ranking of 35th achieved in July 2007
• Paszek struck 44 winners to 35 unforced errors in the final – three more winners than Kerber and two less errors

Stat Attack – Kerber

• The German has won a tour leading 40 matches so far in 2012 with two titles, one final, four semi-finals and two quarter finals
• Kerber’s ranking of eighth is the highest ranking for a German woman since Steffi Graf retired ranked No.3 in August 1999

Roddick dethrones Seppi for AEGON International crown

Andy Roddick defeated reigning champion Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-2 to take the title at the AEGON International in Eastbourne.

The American sixth seed was a late wild card entrant and justified that decision by reaching his 51st career final on the ATP World Tour.

Defending champion and third seed Seppi broke serve to begin the final only to see Roddick roar back with five straight games.  The Italian broke at 1-5 to stay in the opening set but the 29 year-old American claimed the opener at the second attempt when a Seppi return went wide off the netcord.

Seppi saved two break points to start the second set but was broken in the third game when he netted a forehand and Roddick broke to love to make it 4-1. 

Serving at 5-2 the former US Open Champion struck a service winner to complete a morale boosting victory after 71 minutes.

Stat Attack – Roddick

• With his semi-final victory the American became the 19th man to win 600 matches on the ATP World tour in the Open Era
• Roddick has now lifted at least one ATP singles title for 12 consecutive seasons – equalling Roger Federer among active players
• The big serving American was on a six match losing streak before arriving at Eastbourne

Stat Attack – Seppi

• Seppi was attempting to defend a title for the first time in his career
• The Italian reached a new career best ranking of 24th earlier this month after reaching the last 16 at Roland Garros

Ferrer lifts second ‘s-Hertogenbosch title 

David Ferrer claimed his second title at the UNICEF Open with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over German qualifier Philipp Petzschner.

The win gives the top seeded Spaniard a fourth ATP World Tour title of the season and a second career victory on grass.

Ferrer broke the Petzschner serve on three occasions en route to wrapping up a straightforward win for his 15th ATP World Tour title.

Stat Attack – Ferrer

• It is the first time the Spaniard has won 4 ATP World Tour titles in a season
• The 30 year-old now leads the tour with 43 victories in 2012
• The win moves Ferrer back up to No.5 – his 79^th non-consecutive week ranked in the top 5

Stat Attack – Petzschner

• The German led Rafael Nadal by two sets to one in the third round at Wimbledon two years ago before falling 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5), 2-6, 3-6 on Centre Court
• Petzschner holds two Grand Slam doubles titles – Wimbledon 2010 and the 2011 US Open with Austria’s Jurgen Melzer

Petrova claims first grass court title

Nadia Petrova defeated qualifier Urszula Radwanska 6-4, 6-3 to take the title at the UNICEF Open in ‘S-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands.

The victory gives the 30 year-old former World No.3 a first WTA singles title on grass courts having previously triumphed on hard courts, clay courts and on carpet.

The big serving Russian had not dropped a set all week at the Dutch venue and continued that form in the final despite losing serve in the opening game. 

Petrova struck back quickly to take the opening set and did so again in the second set after going down an early break against the 21 year-old Pole, appearing in her first WTA final.  Experience proved vital as Petrova sealed her 11th career singles title.

Stat Attack – Petrova

• The Russian had lost her only previous final on grass against Agnieszka Radwanska at Eastbourne four years ago
• The 30 year-old now moves back into top 20 – she is one of four players aged over 30 to be ranked in the top 20 alongside Flavia Pennetta, Li Na and Serena Williams
• Petrova has reached two Grand Slam semi-finals and seven quarter finals

Stat Attack – Radwanska

• The Pole is the fifth qualifier to reach a WTA final in 2012
• Radwanska has won 17 of her last 21 matches – moving to new career high ranking of 54th this week