TENNIS ATP 500 ROTTERDAM – Stan Wawrinka fought back from a set down to battle past defending champion Tomas Berdych with 4-6 6-3 6-4 in two hours and clinched his first Rotterdam title at the ABN AMRO Tennis Championships. Diego Sampaolo
“Stan the Man” won his ninth career title and his second trophy of the year after Chennai after a two-hour battle against Tomas Berdych who was bidding to become the fifth player to take two back-to-back Rotterdam titles after Arthur Ashe in 1975 and 1976, Stefan Edberg in 1987 and 1988, Nicholas Escudé in 2001 and 2002 and Robin Soderling in 2011 and 2012. The Lausanne star extended his winning record to six consecutive matches against Berdych.
Wawrinka fended off a break point at 30-40 in the fifth game of the first set when Berdych mis-timed a cross-court forehand. Berdych converted his third break point in the seventh game to take the 4-3 lead as Wawrinka hit a forehand long. Berdych served for the set at 5-4 but Wawrinka saved the set point at 40-30 with his forehand. The Swiss failed to convert a break point chance in the tenth game and Berdych sealed the first set in 39 minutes.
The second set went on serve until the eighth game when Wawrinka fended off one break point at 3-4 30-40 at 3-4 15-40 with an ace before producing a forehand winner on the next point. Wawrinka sealed the second set in the next game on the second set point with his forehand forcing the match to the third set.
Wawrinka broke serve to 30 in the opening game of the decider and took control of the match when he pulled away to 4-1 with a second break of serve thanks to two backhands. Berdych managed to break back in the next game for 2-4 keeping his hopes alive. Berdych saved one match point at 3-5 but minutes later Wawrinka closed out on the second match point to take his first indoor title.
Wawrinka is the fourth Swiss player to win the title in Rotterdam after Heinz Gunthardt in 1980, Jacob Hlasek in 1989 and Roger Federer in 2005 and 2012.
With the Rotterdam title Wawrinka will move up to World Number 7 in the ATP Ranking overtaking Berdych.
It’s my first ATP 500 title and winning indoors is something special. It’s always amazing to win a trophy. It’s the best feeling”, said Wawrinka
Berdych was disappointed after failing to win two consecutive titles in Rotterdam. “I am disappointed with the way the match finished. I had my chances at the beginning of the second set. I was in control at the beginning of the second set and I didn’t make them. That cost me the match”, said Berdych
