BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: World number 10 David Ferrer of Spain yesterday beat third seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in straight sets to capture the season’s opening event at the $1.2m Qatar ExxonMobil Open.
Ferrer, 32, relied on a power-packed baseline game to complete a convincing 6-4, 7-5 win in 1 hour and 29 minutes at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.
It was Ferrer’s 22nd career title win, recorded after an easy-paced final with Berdych who self-destructed in the second set.
With yesterday’s win, Ferrer now leads Berdych 8-5 in career head-to-head games.
After picking up the top prize of $195,000 and 250 rankings points, Ferrer said hard work in the pre-season helped him overcome Berdych in the final, which was watched by football star David Beckham from the stands.
“It feels great as I put in a lot of hard work in the pre-season,” Ferrer said before receiving the winner’s trophy from Beckham.
“Yesterday, I played a tough match (against Ivo Karlovic) and there were faster rallies but I recovered for the final thanks to my physio,” the Spaniard said.
“Tonight, I was ready to play Tomas. Although he was better than me in the first set, I fought back in the second. There were more rallies in the second set. He had the chance to win (the second set) at 5-4 but he couldn’t do it.
“He lost a bit of rhythm after that,” Ferrer said. “Anyway, I am really happy. It was unbelievable,” the soft-spoken Spaniard said.
When reminded of his 2012 run of form — when he won the season-opening event and then went on to bag seven more titles that year — Ferrer said with a smile: “Well, I want to enjoy this moment. I have won this tournament now, so I will be (celebrating) like this for two weeks.”
Ferrer kicked off the proceedings with a service break against Berdych who hadn’t lost his serve in his three previous matches at the six-day event.
Two unforced errors and a long return by Berdych, the world number seven, saw Ferrer start the final with a service break in game one.
The 32-year-old Spaniard, who won just one title last year, broke Berdych in game five to go 4-1 up. Berdych broke Ferrer in game six to reduce the deficit at 4-2 but the Spaniard held his serves with ease to take the first set at 6-4 in 40 minutes.
In the second set, both players traded service breaks in the first two games. However, Berdych lost the plot and the rhythm on his trademark fast serves when he botched up two set points in game 10.
On the third set point, Berdych lobbed the easiest of returns into the net with opponent Ferrer stuck to his baseline.
Ferrer quickly turned the game on his favour by taking game 10 and then broke the Czech in game 11 when Berdych smashed two returns into the net and fired a wayward return long.
Ferrer held his serve in game 12 to complete a straight-set win over Berdych who committed 37 unforced errors against 19 by his rival.
Berdych admitted Ferrer was by far the better player in the final.
“It has been a good week. (I was) a little bit unlucky in the final but David played an unbelievable final,” Berdych said. “I must congratulate him. This year I reached the final so I would like to say that I’d want to come back and win the trophy,” Berdych, 30, added.
“This tournament is important in a season. The season starts with so many top-10 players so you want to do well so I am I happy with what I have achieved,” he said.
“It’s been a couple of good matches and it is always good to have some of them under the belt going for the (first) Grand Slam,” Berdych, who has bagged 10 career titles, said.
The Czech, who appeared in his 25th career final yesterday, went away richer by $102,675 and bagged 150 ranking points.
The two finalists now head to Melbourne for the Australian Open, the season’s opening Grand Slam. THE PENINSULA
DOHA: England’s retired football superstar David Beckham believes the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will be “special”.
Beckham, who ended his career at the Qatari-owned French club PSG in 2013, was speaking at the closing ceremony of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, which was won by David Ferrer of Spain yesterday.
“I was here five years ago with (AC) Milan. It is such a hospitable place,” Beckham said.
“It is an incredible place to spend time at. It is changing every time I come here. So many great things happening — obviously the World Cup in 2022. I think it will be a special spectacle,” Beckham said.
“Like I said it is a great honour to be here. I was lucky enough to play for (French giants) PSG and it was a very special time for me. I have many friends here and many friends in Paris,” Beckham said.
“I was here to watch two
great athletes and to watch them play the way they did tonight was special. I think everyone saw what really great athletes they are. David (Ferrer) and Tomas (Berdych) should be congratulated on a great week of tennis,” he added.
THE PENINSULA
