Marrero/Verdasco upset Mertinak/Sa to clinch the crown – Copa Claro 2012
David Marrero and Fernando Verdasco of Spain clinched their maiden title of the season, as they surprised second seeded contestants, Michal Mertinak and Andre Sa, in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, in the final at the Copa Claro in Buenos
Aires on Sunday. It took the Spaniards an hour and 21 minutes to beat the Slovakian-Brazilian team.
Marrero and Verdasco grabbed an early breakthrough, winning their opponent’s serve in the third game and holding their own in the fourth to build a 3-1 lead. The Spaniards sealed it in the tenth game, clinching it 6-4.
Marrero and Verdasco were erratic on the second serves. They committed two double faults and converted just three of the seven of them into points. Though, they compensated that with their first serves, putting in 75 percent and
winning 17 of the 21 of them.
The proceedings in the second set were not much different from the first one, as Marrero and Verdasco broke Mertinak and Sa again in the third game to go ahead 3-1. The unseeded duo made sure that the Slovakian-Brazilian didn’t
stage a comeback and comfortable served out the set at 5-4.
Replying aggressively to Mertinak and Sa’s second serves, Marrero and Verdasco sealed five of the nine points on them. The Spaniards succeeded in putting away the only break threat they faced and utilised the one opportunity they
created in the second set.
Verdasco expressed, "It is always important to win a title in this sport. It was about time to win a second doubles title after eight years. I am very happy that we have been able to win this week, especially with David, who is
one of my best friends on tour. We are going to play Acapulco. We will try to get in Miami. Our result in Acapulco will be very important to add points. The idea is to continue. We are playing good and we think that we can win a lot of matches."
The Spaniard won his only previous title partnering countryman Feliciano Lopez at the If Stockholm Open in 2004.
Talking about playing in Buenos Aires, Marrero said, "We have a lot of friends here. The truth is that playing here is like playing at home.”
Mertinak and Sa lost their second consecutive title match. They were beaten by Eric Butorac and Bruno Soares in the final at the Brasil Open last week.
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