Viktor Troicki will go into the Australian Open with his confidence sky high after retaining his title at the Sydney International with a thrilling 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (9/7) victory over Grigor Dimitrov yesterday.
The tough 29-year-old Serbian, who won the title as a qualifier last year, looked dead and buried after Dimitrov coasted through the first set, but evened up the contest when the talented Bulgarian suffered a second-set meltdown.
The crowd at Ken Rosewall Arena were then treated to top- quality tennis during which both players had championship points before Troicki kissed the line with an angled cross-court winner to take the third set tiebreak 9-7.
Photo: Reuters
“What a match! We really fought until the end,” Troicki, whose victory extended his winning streak at Olympic Park to 12 matches, said after the presentation ceremony.
“I guess I was just a bit more lucky at the end, but this is the game of tennis, sometimes you have luck and sometimes you don’t,” he said.
Dimitrov showed off all his weapons in the absorbing 2 hour, 16 minute contest, but will rue not making the most of his chances to clinch his first title in 18 months.
Foremost among those was the net volley he had on championship point in the tiebreak, which the 24-year-old only managed to flick into the tape.
However, it was a second-set performance that was as disappointing as his first set was impressive that his new coach Franco Davin will have to ponder most.
The former Wimbledon semi-finalist served up three double faults to lose his opening service game and then simply crumbled, the nadir coming when he tried a between-the-legs trick shot and completely fluffed it.
HOBART
AFP, HOBART, Australia
France’s Alize Cornet stormed to a 6-1, 6-2 win over Eugenie Bouchard to claim her fifth career title at the Hobart International yesterday.
The 42nd-ranked Cornet was too strong and consistent for the misfiring Canadian, winning the decider in 68 minutes in windy conditions.
However, as much as seventh seed Cornet dominated, former world No. 5 Bouchard was well off her game, losing serve seven times, producing five double faults and serving at just 48 percent.
“I was very focused for the whole tournament and the whole match today, now I can let go,” Cornet said. “It’s my fifth title. It’s been two years that I haven’t won a title, so it feels great.”
Bouchard hit 34 unforced errors for the match to Cornet’s 17, a key difference. The Canadian struggled in the windy conditions, only holding serve once in the match.
“I was handling the wind much better than she did,” Cornet said. “I think she got a bit frustrated and she was trying to play winners too early in the points.”
“I was patient, trying to be aggressive and playing the right shot at the right time and serving very well also,” she said. “It all worked out my way today.”
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