© Tennistalk.com
|
|
© Tennistalk.com
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/5/08 12:57 AM | Jonathan Morgan
The Italian youngster had a great week and put up a great fight, but the Chilean veteran was too much as he wins his 2nd title of the year and remains undefeated on clay in 2008.
That's right. Along with Nadal, Gonzalez is also undefeated on clay this year.
The final may not have been the prettiest match to watch, but both men wanted this badly. The first two sets were mirror images of each other. Not a single break of serve, and only a few break points needing saving. Both players fought from the back of the court until they decided to unleash a big forehand (something both posess, Bolelli will go far with such a gorgeous weapon) to end the point.
This was not a classic clay court battle with 20+ stroke rallies, not at all. Quick strike tennis was the name of the game for most points. In the second set tiebreak, Gonzalez looked to be about to finish the match off in straights. Bolelli began to show the fatigue most normal humans would feel after playing a 3+ hour match the night before. However, the Italian got through it and pulled out the set.
In the 3rd, Bolelli's tiredness really began to show. He began to move more sluggishly and his second serve lacked the bite it had in the two previous sets. Gonzalez still looked rather fresh, and, being the veteran he is, took advantage. He rolled to a 6-3 final set to claim his 10th ATP title.
Both men are in the draw in Rome. For Bolelli it will be his home tournament while Gonzalez is looking to defend finalist points from 2007.
Fantastic week for both men and a finely fought final.
Tough luck for Bolelli. Had he not played such a grind fest with Mathieu last night, he would have had a much better shot.
Tell a friend »
Did you know that... Both Rafael Nadal and Björn Borg won 16 titles as teenagers.
Avalaine, Dec 4, 2008 4:32 AM
ravikiran, Dec 4, 2008 3:49 AM
kaitepai, Dec 3, 2008 10:59 PM
kaitepai, Dec 3, 2008 10:02 PM
janhavi, Dec 3, 2008 2:51 PM
Avalaine, Dec 3, 2008 10:15 PM
Casper, Dec 2, 2008 8:23 PM
Casper, Dec 2, 2008 8:02 PM
Simone Bolelli
Fernando Gonzalez
BMW Open
