Nishikori breezes past Lopez to win title
Ferrer defends Buenos Aires crown
MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Feb 25, (AFP): Japan’s Kei Nishikori, who did not drop a set all week, easily defeated Feliciano Lopez 6-2, 6-3 in the final of the US Indoor Tennis Championships, claiming his third career ATP Tour title.
The 23-year-old Nishikori needed just 67 minutes to earn his second title in four months as he managed to break unseeded Lopez’s serve four times on Sunday.
“I’m very happy with the way I played today,” said Nishikori.
“To win this title is an amazing feeling. I tried to concentrate on all the important points. I served really well this week. I was practising a lot and it’s getting better. Hopefully I can win a couple more titles. It’s been a good start to the year.”
Meeting for the second time on the Tour, Nishikori started fast, breaking Lopez to begin the match.
Nishikori, who is ranked 22nd in the world, clinched the win when Lopez sent a backhand wide on the second championship point. Nishikori appeared to injure his elbow on the first championship point but managed to serve out the match.
“I love this place,” said fifth seeded Nishikori. “I played an amazing player but I played aggressive today.
“For sure I want to come back next year.”
He had three aces, one double fault and won 80 percent of his second-serve points.
Nishikori improved to 11-2 in 2013 and avenged his third-round loss to Lopez in Barcelona two years ago.
Nishikori, who earned $290,000 in prize money, also won in October on his home soil in Tokyo.
Spain’s Lopez finished with eight aces, but he also double faulted three times against Nishikori.
Lopez dropped to 2-6 in title matches with his last win on the tour coming in 2010.
“To be in a final without playing for a few weeks is great result for me,” Lopez, 31, said.
Lopez was trying to become the oldest winner on the ATP Tour this season.
In Buenos Aires, world number four David Ferrer of Spain defended his crown Sunday at the $490,000 ATP claycourt tournament in Buenos Aires with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 win over Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.
Ferrer, the top seed, saw off his thirdseeded rival before a 4,000 crowd at the Lawn Tennis Club despite dropping serve at the start of the deciding set as he then proceeded to polish off six games on a roll.
The 30-year-old pocketed his 20th career title and second of the year after Auckland.
“It is difficult to defend a tournament but tennis has been kind to me and I am very happy to have done so. I shall savour the moment,” said Ferrer.
“Winning 20 titles is tough and I never thought I would get to that total but sometimes you achieve more than you dreamed of.”
Wawrinka, 17 on the ATP circuit, was left waiting for his fourth title — his most recent coming in 2011 at Chennai.
Spanish claycourt specialists have won the past five editions of the tournament, with Tommy Robredo successful in 2009, Juan Carlos Ferrero landing the next crown before Nicolas Almagro in 2011 and then Ferrer the past two years.