Tennis roundup
Federer rings up 10th title of season MADRID, Spain (AP) – Roger Federer won his first Madrid Masters and 10th title of the season Sunday with a 7-5, 6-1, 6-0 victory over Fernando Gonzalez.
Federer became the first player in the Open era to win 10 titles in three straight years. The top-ranked Swiss player moved ahead of Pete Sampras with his 12th Masters series title – second only to Andre Agassi’s 17.
“I am the best right now,” Federer said. “In history we’ll never know, unless I break all records, but that’s still a long way to go.”
Federer didn’t drop a set in Madrid while winning his 19th straight match and third straight final.
Earlier this month, Federer won the Japan Open after capturing his third consecutive U.S. Open title.
“I’ve really come a long way in the last four years, and I really hope I stay healthy and improve,” Federer said of his 43-13 record in finals. “I like it.”
Federer relied on a powerful backhand to break the 10th-seeded Chilean six times – including in five straight games over the second and third sets.
“It was tough because I didn’t feel I was in my best shape, and on the other side of the court is a really good player,” Gonzalez said. “Maybe it wasn’t my best day but it was a good week, I played good tennis. But two weeks in a row is tough. I’m tired.”
Both players held serve through the first set until the 12th game when Federer, leading 6-5, sent a backhanded volley out of Gonzalez’s reach to take the set.
Federer’s backhand produced six winners in the match, including one in the fourth game of the second set for a 3-1 lead.
Gonzalez hit 21 of his 29 errors over the final two sets and Federer was 10-for-10 on first serve points in the second set.
Federer opened the third set with another break of Gonzalez, who didn’t win a game the rest of the way.
“I haven’t played (here) for two years because of fatigue and injury, and I’ve been able to come back and win this tournament, so it’s a great day for my career,” Federer said.
Federer improved to 8-0 lifetime against Gonzalez, who lost his second consecutive final. He lost to Ivan Ljubicic last week in Vienna, Austria.
Zurich Open
ZURICH, Switzerland – Maria Sharapova became the first Russian to win the Zurich Open, defeating Daniela Hantuchova 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 in the final.
Sharapova, who won her third WTA title this season, still has a chance to finish the year as the top-ranked player. She’d need to win next week in Linz, Austria, and at the season-ending WTA Championships in Madrid.
Amelie Mauresmo, who withdrew from the Zurich Open with a shoulder injury, and second-ranked Justine Henin-Hardenne, who hasn’t played since mid-September because of a knee problem, still lead the U.S. Open champion in the rankings.
Mauresmo leads Sharapova by 630 points, but many of the Frenchwomen’s points will expire before this season ends. Henin-Hardenne would have to fail to reach the WTA final for Sharapova to finish on top.
Neither Henin-Hardenne nor Mauresmo are expected to play before Madrid.
“Becoming No. 1 is a huge achievement, but I don’t personally think ending the season as No. 1 is a huge deal,” said Sharapova, who was top-ranked in August 2005. “I honestly can’t remember who finished last year No. 1.
“You remember who won the Grand Slams and who has been No. 1, not who finished the year No. 1.”
Sharapova, who withdrew from the recent Kremlin Cup with a foot injury, said she was playing through pain in Zurich. She picked up her 14th career title, her other wins this season coming in San Diego and Indian Wells, Calif.
Hantuchova had to save three break points on her first serve before Sharapova swept the next six games.
Both players took advantage of the on-court coaching, which is allowed at this tournament, after the first set. Sharapova spoke to coach Mike Joyce, while Hantuchova talked with her mother.
The motherly advice seemed to help. Hantuchova broke Sharapova’s opening serve in the second set and then saved five break points in the final game to even the match.
“She told me to be a bit calmer and not go for the crazy shots, to focus on what I had to do,” Hantuchova said. “I felt I turned it around well.”
Before the final set, Sharapova took a bathroom break, and her father appeared to follow. Hantuchova again spoke to her mother, but it didn’t prove to be as effective.
Sharapova broke to take a 3-1 lead in the final set, holding serve and winning with an ace down the middle.
“It was weird having that letdown in the second set,” said Sharapova, who dropped only one set in Zurich and is 5-1 against Hantuchova with five straight wins.
Hantuchova, who has only one career title, played in a final for the first time in 14 months.