Borja Golan expels Stephen Coppinger to clinch title – London Open 2011
The concluding day of the PSA World Tour Challenger 15, which is in its fourth year running saw third seeded Espanola Borja Golan clash against second seeded South African Stephen Coppinger in the final of the Coronation London Open 2011.
The two had battled it out at the Cumberland Lawn Tennis Club in London, Great Britain and it took the third seeded Spaniard seventy three minutes to get rid of the second seeded South African in straight sets of 8-11, 13-11, 11-9, 4-11, 11-3.
The first round of the match was initiated by the second seeded South African and he put up a good front to encounter the third seeded Espanola. Although, the players matched a blow for a blow, Golan took his time in establishing his rhythm. Nonetheless,
the second seed had captured the opening round and had taken the competitive edge.
However, after taking a beating in the first round, the third seeded Spaniard made a tremendous return as he matched an eye for an eye and this time both the players were locked into a fierce battle of rallying. As neither one slipped, the score tied at
eleven points each and the set could’ve tilted either way but it was a lucky break that the third seeded Espanola capitalized on. He then reeled off two successive points to claim the set.
The head-to-head carried well into the third set and once more the cat and mouse chase was initiated as the players matched an eye for an eye. Although, the second seeded South African had taken the lead, in the middle he stumbled and lost a majority of
his points. In the mean time the third seeded Espanola took advantage and overtook his opponent to eventually take the lead and sealed his victory of the set.
By the end of the third set the third seeded Spaniard had bagged two games, while, the second seeded South African had bagged one. However, in a reversal of fate in the fourth set led the second seeded South African to outshine his adversary.
It was an extremely competitive match as both the players were in the top three and both the players had bagged two games each. The fifth set was the determining factor but this time the third seeded Espanola was very lucky as he rushed past his adversary,
who was now tired and unable to play and clinched the set with an 11-3 score.
In doing so; he captured the title and the 20,000 USD prize money.
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