Alexandr Dolgopolov downs Tommy Haas to clinch title – Citi Open 2012
World number 16, Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine, captured his first title of the season by beating Germany’s Tommy Haas in three sets 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-1 in the Citi Open final in Washington, USA on Sunday.
The Ukrainian required two hours and 15 minutes to undo his opponent in a tough contest.
Dolgopolov and Haas exchanged a break of serve in the first set, taking the score to 6-6 and forcing a tie-breaker. There was a close fight later on too, as both players went neck to neck to level the proceedings at 7-7. Haas grabbed
two points in a row after that to clinch it 7-6(7).
In the second set, the German contender and his Ukrainian rival made a steady start, as they did not allow each other to break serve in the first nine games and took the score to 5-4 in favour of Dolgopolov. Serving to stay in
the set at that moment, Haas was unable to hold and threw it away 4-6.
Dolgopolov carried the winning momentum into the final set and made a brilliant start, breaking Haas in the second game and holding his following serve to attain a 3-0 lead. The German opened his account in the fourth one to cut
the deficit to 1-3 but Dolgopolov secured three more consecutively afterwards to seal it 6-1.
The Ukrainian served exceptionally well, as he bombarded 11 aces and snatched 41 of the 52 first delivery points. On the other hand, Haas gave a pathetic performance on the second serves, as he committed 11 double faults and lost
26 of the 47 points on them.
During the post match press conference, Dolgopolov said, "For sure, I’m very happy, and especially winning a match like that [which is] really tight, goes up and down, the rain breaks. I’m really happy with myself that I stayed
concentrated and was in the match in all the three sets."
The Ukrainian added, while commenting on the game of Haas, "He was giving away more free points than he did in the first set and throughout the tournament when I watched him play. I think it was a part of him, a part of it being
the final, a part of my game. Everything helped it to go wrong for him. He helped me a little bit in the last game of the second set.”
This was Dolgopolov’s first ATP World Tour 500 and second overall title of his career.
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