Marin Cilic topples David Nalbandian to capture title – AEGON Championships 2012
AEGON Championships in London had a dramatic ending, as Croatia’s Marin Cilic was declared the winner after former world number three, David Nalbandian of Argentina, was disqualified from the contest due to unacceptable behaviour.
The Argentinean was leading 7-6(3), 3-4 in the second set, when he was defaulted because of injuring a line judge.
Nalbandian did not take much time to take lead, as he hit a blow to the Croatian in the very first game of the match and held his subsequent serve to move ahead 2-0. However, Cilic broke back in the sixth and levelled the proceedings
at 3-3. The rest of the set went with the serves, taking the score to 6-6 and forcing a tie-breaker. Nalbandian played brilliantly later on, allowing the Croatian to win just three points and sealing it 7-6(3).
The Argentinean did not serve quite well, as he did not hit any ace and committed one double fault. The 5ft 11in tall had a below average first serve percentage of 61 but managed to convert 19 of the 23 of them into points. The
30-year-old could not save the only break threat he came across but converted one of the four chances he received in the opener.
In the second set, Cilic did the same what his opponent had done in the first, breaking the Argentinean in the opening game and winning his next serve to attain a 2-0 lead. Though, Nalbandian also replied in the same manner, as
he struck back in the sixth to equalise the score at 3-3. The difference came in the following game, as Cilic snatched a break in the seventh game to go up 4-3. This was the time, when the unusual incident happened, as Nalbandian hit the advertisement board,
which was surrounding the line judge’s chair. The Argentinean kicked it so hard that it broke apart and cut lineman’s shin, causing it to bleed. Nalbandian was disqualified on the basis of unsportsmanlike behaviour.
Cilic said, during the post match press conference, "I played good today and came here to play four, five matches. I won them and pretty comfortably in those first two or three. I’m feeling really good and I think my form is on
the spot where it should be."
About the disqualification incident, he shared, "I’m definitely very sorry to finish the tournament like this, especially in the final where we both I think played good tennis. He was playing also some great rallies and in those
last two games it was extremely interesting with making two breaks one of each side. So I think it was good tennis today."
This was the Croatian’s first grass court title in his seven-year career so far.
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