Milos Raonic easily won the first all-Canadian tournament final in ATP history, erasing the only break point he faced and beating Vasek Pospisil 6-1, 6-4 on Sunday at the Citi Open for his sixth career title.
Raonic did not drop a set in Washington, winning 52 of 53 service games, saving seven of eight break points and hitting 83 aces, topping 225kph. Against Pospisil, he hit nice aces, saved the only break point he faced and converted four of his own.
It was the first time two men from Canada played each other in a tour final in the Open era, which began in 1968, and flags from the country dotted the stands on the outskirts of Washington.
For the 24-year-old Pospisil, who won the men’s doubles title at Wimbledon last month, this was his first ATP singles final. He played a bit like someone overwhelmed by the occasion — although Pospisil insisted he was not, instead chalking up uneven play to fatigue after spending more than three-and-a-half hours on court on Saturday, when he finished his rain-interrupted quarter-final before winning his semi-final.
WOMEN’S SINGLES FINAL
AP, WASHINGTON
Two-time major champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia ended her four-year WTA title drought on Sunday, beating Kurumi Nara of Japan 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the Citi Open.
Asked if it felt like so much time had passed since she won a tournament, Kuznetsova smiled broadly and replied: “It feels like it’s been too long.”
It was the 14th tournament victory for the 29-year-old Kuznetsova, but her first since she won in San Diego in August 2010. Her collection includes trophies from the 2004 US Open and 2009 French Open.
At 4-all in the final set, with Kuznetsova serving, they played the longest game of the match, with 16 points, five deuces and one break point.
“I got a little bit paralyzed and was getting tight, and I’m happy I overcame this feeling today,” Kuznetsova said. “But definitely, didn’t play my best tennis in the end of second and third set.”
Still, Kuznetsova eventually held to lead 5-4, then broke Nara in the next game to end it.
Kuznetsova, who was seeded sixth and ranked 26th, had never played in Washington’s hard-court tuneup for the US Open.
She said that when she was trying to decide whether to enter the Citi Open or the WTA tournament at Stanford, California, the same week, some other players tried to persuade her to skip Washington, saying the city’s heat is too tough and that in the past, the tournament did not have top-level facilities such as the gym or locker room.
However, she liked that it was on the East Coast and a short flight to Canada for next week’s hard-court tour stop.
And, in the end, Kuznetsova left town with a trophy.
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