Ferrer outplays Lopez for 25th title
KUALA LUMPUR: David Ferrer beat his fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 7-5 7-5 in the final of the Malaysian Open on Sunday to capture the 25th title of his career and his fourth this year.
Appearing in his 50th ATP career final, the 33-year-old won the match against his Davis Cup teammate to add the Malaysian title to his previous wins this year in Doha, Rio and Acapulco.
HALEP RETIRES HURT BEIJING: World No 2 Simona Halep lasted less than a set before retiring injured at the China Open on Sunday, plunging her appearance at the year-ending WTA Finals into doubt.
Halep and Petra Kvitova, who was playing on painkill- ers and suffering the ongoing effects of glandular fever, both crashed out in the first round. Romania’s Halep said she would now take a break and assess if she can play in Singapore after retiring at 5-4 down in the first set against Lara Arruabarrena. Kvitova, meanwhile, lost 5-7, 4-6 to Sara Errani. Soon-to-retire US Open champion Flavia Pennetta battled past China’s Han Xinyun 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.
THE FIGHTER IN NADAL BEIJING: A defiant Rafael Nadal warned his career was not over yet as he pledged that “sooner or later” he will be back at the very top of men’s tennis. “I think I am working well. I am very motivated to go for that challenge that brings me the chance to overcome a tough situation for me,” he said.