CHENNAI: Stanislas Wawrinka has put an end to a seven-year jinx. The Swiss world no.8 became the first top seed since 2006 to win the Chennai Open tennis tournament when he made short work of the French underdog Edouard Roger-Vasselin 7-5, 6-2 in the final of the 19th edition on Sunday.
The last No. 1 seed to justify his billing here was Ivan Ljubicic and only five players had done it before the Croatian. Apart from notching up 250 ATP points, Wawrinka bagged $72,490 for winning his fifth career title and the fact that he was playing his 500th Tour match made the occasion special. It was Wawrinka’s second Chennai crown after his triumph in 2011.
For the 30-year-old Vasselin, who has been on the circuit for 12 years, it was a “heart-breaking moment” after falling at the final hurdle for the second time in his career. “I tried my best, but Stan was simply too good today,” said the affable Frenchman who took home a cheque for $38,180 and bagged 150 ATP points.
Wawrinka, by his own admission, expected a tougher final as his opponent had beaten him when the two met last time in Basel. So did the Sunday crowd after Vasselin’s brilliant run into the final.
With a section of the crowd cheering the underdog, Vasselin thwarted Wawrinka’s attempts to make early inroads by saving a barrage of breakpoints — as many as four — in the third game that also saw seven deuces. An unforced error from Wawrinka tilted the marathon game in Vasselin’s favour.
Thereafter both players held their serves without a much ado as the set was heading in just one direction: tie-breaker.
After serving out a love game to make it 5-5, Wawrinka produced a peach of a pass off his stylish single-handed backhand for another break point. And this time, the Swiss was not ready to let it slip through his fingers. Wawrinka finally broke Vasseline for a 6-5 lead and served out the set with another love game.
The backhand winners from Wawrinka’s racquet continued to flow as the second set unfolded with a break of serve. Vasselin showed some resistance in the following game by earning his first break point of the match but Wawrinka upped the ante by firing an ace. From then on, it was a one-way traffic till the players exchanged pleasentries.
Wawrinka promised that he would come back to Chennai for the seventh straight appearance next year. “The crowd is amazing and I feel good here,” said Wawrinka.
Wawrinka said the title gives him a lot of confidence ahead of the season’s first grand slam — Australian Open. “I am striving hard to get into the top-five and it’s a great start to the new season,” he said.
Scandinavian pair of Frederik Nielsen (Sweden) and Johan Brunstrom (Denmark) clinched their first title together by defeating Croatians Marin Draganja and Mate Pavic in a thrilling double final that was decided in a super tie-break. Nielsen and Brunstrom won 6-2, 4-6(10-7).
Results: Final: Stanislas Wawrinka (Sui) bt Edouard Roger-Vasselin (Fra) 7-5, 6-2. Doubles: Frederik Nielsen (Swe)/Johan Brunstrom (Den) bt Marin Draganja/Mate Pavic (Cro) 6-2, 4-6 (10-7).
‘Five titles in 500 matches not a lot’
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