Mahut/Roger-Vasselin prevail over Brunstrom/Nielsen to clinch title – Moselle Open 2012
Second seeded French duo of Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin grabbed their third tour level team title by toppling Swedish-Danish tandem of Johan Brunstrom and Frederik Nielsen in straight sets 7-6(3), 6-4 in the final
of Moselle Open in Metz, France on Sunday.
It took the French combination one hour and 25 minutes to seal victory over their rivals.
Mahut/Roger-Vasselin and Brunstrom/Nielsen did not drop their serve in the first three games, taking the score to 2-1 in favour of the former. The French pair earned a breakthrough in the fourth and consolidated on it to attain
a 3-1 lead. However, Brunstrom and Nielsen hit back in the seventh and held their next serve to level the score at 4-4. The following four games went with serve, equalising it a 6-6 and forcing a tie-breaker. Both teams went on equal terms in the first four
points to take the score to 2-2 but then Mahut and Roger-Vasselin grabbed five of the following six and won 7-6(3).
In a similar fashion to the first set, Mahut and Roger-Vasselin held their opening serves in the second one to equalise the score at 1-1. The French tandem struck in the third and consolidated on it to move ahead 3-1. Mahut and
Roger-Vasselin maintained their advantage till the end and closed it 6-4.
The Frenchmen banged in a single ace and 79 percent of the first serves, converting 41 of the 50 points on them. The 22nd ranked team was a bit erratic on the second deliveries, losing five of the 13 points on them,
including four double faults.
Talking to the media people after the contest, Mahut said, “It is fantastic to win here again; it was the first tournament I won in 2003 [w/ Julien Benneteau], and I believe I came back every year since then. We had again a great
week with Edouard. We dropped only one set all week, and after winning in Montpellier and Marseille, we are proving to be a very solid team and it’s a pleasure to lift a third title in France this year.”
Roger-Vasselin added, “I am delighted to be able to win here in Metz; each time I come here the organisation makes me feel like at home. It was again a great week with Nicolas.”
Mahut and Roger-Vasselin won their previous two titles also in France. They captured Open Sud de France in Montpellier and the Open 13 in Marseille this year.
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