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INDIANAPOLIS, July 21: Frenchman Gilles Simon won his fourth ATP title after a convincing 6-4, 6-4 victory over defending champion Dmitry Tursunov at the Indianapolis Championships on Sunday.
The 23-year-old Simon, who beat German Tommy Haas and American Sam Querrey on his way to the final, was on top throughout and saved all nine break points he faced.
Simon had not previously won an ATP event in the United States.
The second seed’s excellence on break points was a continuation of his form in the three set semi-final win over Querrey.
Tursunov struggled in the intense heat and lost his temper in the second set, throwing his racket to the ground.
Simon, who has previously won in Casablanca, Marseille and Bucharest, said it was too soon to say if he was ready to create an upset in the US Open which begins on Aug 25.
FIRST TITLE FOR WOZNIAK
STANFORD (California): Canadian qualifier Aleksandra Wozniak captured her first career title by defeating sixth seed Marion Bartoli of France 7-5, 6-3 in the final of the Stanford Classic on Sunday.
Wozniak became the first Canadian woman to win a title since 1988.
“I believed in myself, but I never thought I would win the tournament,” said Wozniak. “I surprised myself and I’m so proud of what I accomplished. Going through the qualifying and playing eight matches isn’t easy.”
Bartoli, who saw off Anna Chakvetadze in the quarter-finals and Ai Sugiyama in the semis, started well and had the chance to serve the first set out after breaking Wozniak to 5-4.
However, the 20-year-old Canadian ripped two stunning backhand winners to break right back before going on to take the set 7-5.
Bartoli needed a medical timeout down 2-1 in the second set for a left hip injury and was clearly hampered in her movement the rest of the way.
Bartoli felt pain in her morning practice but it became more intense as they match went on.—Reuters
