Before jumping head first into Wimbledon, its draw, and everything surrounding the most traditional tournament of the season, the last two warm-up grass tournaments concluded today with two happy winners, although for different reasons. One of them realized a first in the ATP this season, and the other found salvation on one of his favourite surface after months of physical struggles.
David Ferrer crowned on another surface
David Ferrer had already equalled his best amount of titles won in a year when he won in Acapulco at the end of the Golden Swing. Today, in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, he was playing his fifth final of the year, just one short of the number of finals he reached last year, with another five months to best this number as well.
By winning the Unicef Open in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, David Ferrer won his fifth title this season, a career best, came back to World no 5, and became the first player to win at least one ATP title on every surface in 2012 (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
By defeating German Philipp Petzschner 6-3 6-4 in today’s final, David Ferrer has not only already bested his number of titles in a year and come back to the no 5 spot in the World’s rankings, he also became the first player this season to win at least one ATP title on each of the three surfaces, with a title on hard (Auckland), two on red clay (Buenos Aires, Acapulco), and now one on grass (‘s-Hertogenbosch). This title is also the Spaniard’s second title on grass, as he won the same tournament four years ago.
Not bad for a player who is still considered by many as a one-dimensional clay court specialist, no?
Salvation for Andy Roddick
He injured himself again in Melbourne (hamstring), needed time to get better but re-injured the hamstring in his big battle against Roger Federer in Miami (a costly win), missed over a month of action, came back on his worst surface and did not win a match, not even last week in Queen’s. All in all, Andy Roddick had a very rough time, which sparked people, again, to mention the “R” word when talking about him.
Andy Roddick made his Eastbourne wild card very profitable, winning his first title since Memphis in 2011 and equalling Roger Federer by winning at least one title for the 12th consecutive year (Photo: Getty Images)
After his second-round loss at the Queen’s Club, Roddick accepted a wild card into the AEGON International, in Eastbourne, and he ensured that this wild cart would be beneficial, not only for the tournament, but for himself. Particularly for himself. He went and won everything, defeating defending champion Andreas Seppi 6-3 6-2 in the final, also logging his 600th ATP career win in the semi-finals.
This win got a huge monkey off Roddick’s back, as he hadn’t won a title since Memphis last year. Furthermore, Roddick equalled Roger Federer’s streak by winning at least one title for a 12th consecutive year. “R” word? Please don’t mention it until A-Rod mentions it himself!
If clay is salvation for Rafael Nadal, we have to admit that grass proves once again to be Andy Roddick’s. Happily so.
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