Mon, Jun 23, 2014 page19

• Vandeweghe nets first title, Bautista Agut follows suit

  • AFP, ’S-HERTOGENBOSCH, Netherlands
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  Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut claimed the first title of his career at the ATP-WTA Topshelf Open in the Dutch city of ’s-Hertogenbosch on Saturday, hours after Coco Vandeweghe sealed her maiden win on the same court.

  World No. 28 Bautista Agut came from a set down to beat 2009 champion Benjamin Becker of Germany 2-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 in less than two hours to continue his breakout season.

  However, the Spaniard, who entered the world’s top 30 for the first time last month, was forced to do things the hard way after Becker raced through the opening set courtesy of two service breaks, with Bautista Agut’s second serve coming in for heavy punishment.

  

  Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain returns to Benjamin Becker of Germany in the Topshelf Open men’s singles final in Rosmalen, the Netherlands, on Saturday.

  Photo: EPA

  The second set was much tighter, with a tie-break required to separate the players and it was the Spaniard who held his nerve as Becker faltered, forcing a decider.

  The German hammered an ace to save break point in the opening game of the final set, but Bautista Agut made the crucial breakthrough two games later before shutting the door on his rival to earn his first ATP title, going a step further than he did a year ago in Chennai.

  “It took me a while to recover from a very long match yesterday and I was getting better and better after the first set,” Bautista said. “I was more focused and started to feel better physically. I was trying not to think too much and play my game point by point. It was the same nervousness as every match. I played calm and aggressive in the last game. I had to celebrate hard [after match point] and enjoy the moment.”

  

  Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut reacts in the Topshelf Open men’s singles final against German Benjamin Becker in Rosmalen, the Netherlands, on Saturday.

  Photo: EPA

  Earlier, the US’ Vandeweghe also lifted her first title following a 6-2, 6-4 victory over China’s Zheng Jie.

  Vandeweghe, 22, had to come through the qualifiers just to reach the main draw, but was dominant on serve throughout and capitalized on two breaks of serve in the first set before making a lone break count in the second on her way to the win.

  “I usually take tournaments one match at a time, so early in the week I was just focused on being prepared for my first match in the qualification,” the American said. “Once I took care of that first match I just went from there and I got more and more comfortable on the courts. I was trying not to think about it being a final today. I got the first set and I thought to myself: ‘One set to the good, one more to go, try and get the early break now and keep the pressure on her.’”

  

  Coco Vandeweghe of the US celebrates her win over China’s Zheng Jie in the Topshelf Open women’s singles final in Rosmalen, the Netherlands, on Saturday.

  Photo: AFP

  “I was really just thinking about it step by step, just like how I would play in any match,” said Vandeweghe, whose only previous WTA final was at Stanford two years ago when she lost to compatriot Serena Williams.
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