2011 Movistar Open, Tommy Robredo ends title drought
They say third time lucky and Spaniard Tommy Robredo could not have asked for better luck. Playing at the 2011 Movistar Open last week, sixth seeded Robredo clinched his tenth career title after a drought of almost two years.
Although Robredo debuted at the event in 2001, last week only marked the Spaniard’s third year at the event. Following a first round exit in 2001, Robredo returned to the Santiago event in 2009 as the second seed. Having enjoyed a bye in the first round,
Robredo made it all the way to the semi-finals before losing to eventual runner-up and then fourth seed, Jose Acasuso.
Determined to go one step further this year, Robredo moved past Frederico Gil, Ricardo Mello, Maximo Gonzalez, and, seventh seed, Fabio Fognini, to ensure a spot for himself in the final two.
In a total of ten sets, Robredo, lost only thirty-four games. His opponent in the final was the eighth seeded debutant, Santiago Giraldo, who coincidentally made it into his first ever ATP World Tour final.
Landing an impressive 64% percent on the first serve, Robredo winning percentage was a remarkable 88 percent as compared to Giraldo’s 45 percent. Saving two of two break points and converting two of three break opportunities, Robredo was able to clinch a
6-2 victory for himself.
However, a mid-match lapse threatened Robredo’s title dreams. Cashing in on the Spaniard’s six double faults and serving two aces to Robredo’s none, Giraldo reversed the score and secured a 6-2 win for himself.
With a one set win each, the match entered into the decider. So far this match was going exactly as a final with two equally matched players should go. Going toe-to-toe in the decider, the players forced the set into a tiebreaker.
A neck-to-neck race continued in the tiebreaker with neither player catching a break for ten points. Only on the eleventh point did Robredo catch a break and clinch the tiebreaker 7-5.
Surviving a mid-match lapse, Robredo won his tenth career title. Of his ten titles, this is Robredo’s ninth title on clay.
A delighted Robredo told the press he was, “Extremely happy about this 10th title. Ten is a very nice number and it feels good to lift the trophy again. I feel I started the year well. I am feeling great. It gives me a lot of hope to continue this way. I
think I can have the best or one of the best years in my career in 2011”.
This is Robredo’s first title since his back-to-back win at the Brasil Open and Copa Telmex in 2009. Receiving a boost of 250 points in the rankings, Robredo moved up nine spaces this week to 31st position. Robredo also won a cash prize of US$
68,850.
Giraldo on the other hand wins 150 points and prize money of US$36,250. Looking to become the first Colombian since Mauricio Hadad (1995) to win an ATP World Tour title, it seems Giraldo’s dreams will have to wait for another event.
After the match, Giraldo said, “I am a bit disappointed. I think my lack of experience played a part at that time. I maybe got a bit tense and it went against me.On the other hand, I am very happy about the match we played. I gave everything I had, I played
with all my heart and, in the end, Tommy won the match and was the better player. I’ve had a great week over here and I hope to continue this way”.
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