AUCKLAND: Top-seed David Ferrer completed a perfect warm-up for next week’s Australian Open with a surprisingly easy 6-3, 6-2 victory over David Nalbandian to win the Auckland Open title.
Ferrer, the 2007 Auckland champion, wasted little time against an error-prone Nalbandian to win in just 68 minutes. It was the world number seven’s 10th career title. The pair could meet again in the third round at the Australian Open should they both make it that far. Nalbandian has been drawn to face local favourite Lleyton Hewitt in the first round, while Ferrer will meet Finland’s Jarkko Niemenen.
“I would like to congratulate Nalbandian for this week because he was injured for a lot of time last year,” said Ferrer. “I think he’s coming into the top 10 soon.”
Troicki driven to frustration
Gilles Simon claimed his eighth career ATP title with a solid straight sets victory over Serbia’s Viktor Troicki in the final of the Sydney International.
The steady Frenchman drove the excitable Troicki to sheer frustration with his consistency to carve out a 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) victory in one hour 59 minutes. Simon became the first Frenchman since Guy Forget 20 years ago to win the Sydney title.
Fourth-seed Troicki’s anxiety turned to anger when he hurled his racquet into the court and kicked out at the net as Simon won his fifth straight match against the Serb.
“It’s always good to win the tournament,” said Simon. “You never know if you’re going to win more after, so I enjoy it every time.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2011.
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