Del Potro wins Vienna Title; Seppi Takes Moscow

News

Scores

Rankings

Lucky Letcord Podcast

Shop

Pro Gear

Pickleball

Gear Sale

Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Del Potro wins Vienna Title; Seppi Takes Moscow

By Chris Oddo

(October 21, 2012) -- Juan Martin Del Potro bolstered his position in the race to London with his 12th career title at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna on Sunday. Del Potro, who last qualified for the prestigious year-end event in 2009, is currently in seventh place in the standings.

The 24-year-old, who skipped the last month due to soreness in his left wrist, defeated first-time finalist Grega Zemlja 7-5, 6-3 in a one hour and forty-two minute final to clinch the title.

Del Potro hit 10 aces and saved four of five break points against the Slovenian qualifier in their first ever meeting.

Zemlja, who had upset three seeded players en route to the title match (No. 8 Malisse, No. 3 Haas, No. 2 Tipsarevic), became the first player to break the Argentine’s serve in the tournament in the fifth game of the first set, but he let a 4-2 lead slip.

After breaking to level the opener, Del Potro saved three break points in the ninth game to hold, then broke Zemlja when he served to stay in the set at 5-6.

After a quick hold to start the second set, Del Potro earned his third break of the day to lead 2-0. It was all he would need.

Del Potro won 14 of 15 first serve points in the second set, and did not face a break point as he cruised to his career-best 57th win of the season against only 14 losses.

Seppi Claims Kremlin Cup

Italian Andreas Seppi notched his second title of 2012 with a 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-3 come-from-behind victory over Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci in the finals of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow on Sunday.

Seppi, in the midst of a career year that has seen him rise to just outside the top 20, became the first Italian player to ever win the event, and the first Italian to win two titles in a single season since David Sanguinetti did so in 2002.

Bellucci drew first blood in the match, taking a one set lead after breaking Seppi in the fourth game of the match.

Bellucci would go on to serve for the match two times in the second set, but each time Seppi was up to the task, breaking the Brazilian twice to force the tiebreaker which he eventually won.

In the final set, Seppi gained the edge. He did not face a break point and lost only four points on his serve, while managing to convert two of six break point opportunities to take the title.

With the win Seppi improves to 37-25 on the season, while Bellucci drops to 25-20.

(Photo Credit: AP)