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11/1/10 12:27 AM | Ricky Dimon
Jurgen Melzer comes back from a set and a break deficit to beat Andreas Haider-Maurer in the Vienna final on Sunday. Melzer successfully defends the title in his home country.
Jurgen Melzer defended his Bank Austria Tennis Trophy title on Sunday, but to not before a titanic struggle with an underdog countryman.
Melzer battled back from a set and a break deficit to defeat lucky loser Andreas Haider-Maurer 6-7(10), 7-6(4), 6-4 on Sunday afternoon. Vienna's No. 1 seed needed two hours and 47 minutes to make it back-to-back triumphs in his native land and secure his third career ATP title.
This one was tense right from the start, as neither man could break serve throughout the fist set. Melzer faced no break points and earned five chances of his own, but he converted none of them and was extended to a tiebreaker. A back-and-forth 'breaker finally saw Haider-Maurer capitalize on his fifth set point at 11-10.
The world No. 157 appeared to be on his way to a straight-set victory when he went up a break in the second. He consolidated the lead en route to 5-3 only to crack with the finish line in sight. Melzer held for 4-5 before Haider-Maurer failed to serve out the match. Two games later, another tiebreaker was necessary. The 12th-ranked Austrian took care of two service points for 5-4, crushed a forehand return for 6-4, and won the set on a double-fault from his opponent.
Despite the disappointment, Haider-Maurer remained competitive in the third. Only one break separated the two competitors and it all came down to Melzer saving both of the break points he faced while converting one of five chances himself. The 29-year-old served out the proceedings at 5-4 to bring the grueling encounter to a halt.
"I was a little lucky to get back into the match," explained Melzer, who finished with 13 aces and just two double-faults. "I’m really fortunate to defend my title. I’m very happy. It's a lot of emotions going through a match like this. Winning the title, it means a lot to me."
"I'm happy with the first final, but I was up 7-6, 5-3; I served for the match," Haider-Maurer lamented. "I had big chances to win this title, but it's the first time. I was a little bit nervous. Jurgen played good in this moment, and I lost."
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