Monday, 18 June 2018

Titles to Barty Federer Gasquet Krunic

Four finals up for grabs, two in the Netherlands, and one in each of Germany and London.


s-Hertogenbosch:

Women’s

In a match lasting just over two hours, the first set went to a tie break, after Kirsten Flipkens and Aleksandra Krunic (7) had each achieved two service breaks - Flipkens from three chances, Krunic from six.

The tie break was one way traffic, the Belgian shutting out Krunic completely to lead 7-6(0).

Both players had high first serve percentages in set two, but it was Krunic who won the better share of points on serve, which reflected in the extra break of serve which she collected.  Th match was levelled 6-7(0) 7-5.


Aleksandra Krunic dominated the deciding set, winning 74% of points on her own serve and 64% of those on the Flipkens delivery.

Two break chances were converted and the title was Russian bound, Krunic winning 6-7(0) 7-5 6-1.


With the title, her first on the WTA Tour, Krunic moves up 16 places in the rankings to 39, a new career high (previously 45)

Once a top 15 player, Flipkens moves back into the top 50 with her performance.

Semi finalist here, Viktoria Kuzmova, is a moves up the rankings from a previous career high of 81 to a new one of 66.


Men’s

Richard Gasquet (2) served his way to a set lead over fellow Frenchman Jérémy Chardy, winning 68% of points on his serve, and breaking twice for 6-3.

The second set was on serve until a double fault in the eighth game from  Gasquet delivered a break point to Chardy.  He converted and served for the set.

Gasquet broke back and won the ultimate tie break to take the title 6-3 7-6(5), the 15th of his career, first since the 2016 European Open in October 2016, and first on grass since his initial titles in Nottingham in 2005 and 2006.


Stuttgart:

In the opening set Roger Federer (1) won all but two points on his first serve, while Milos Raonic (7) won 75% on his.

Raonic has two break chances but both were saved by Federer.

The Swiss ace gathered one opportunity and used it, enabling him to take a set lead 6-4.

No break chances for either player in the second set and a tie break occurred.

A double fault contributed by Raonic at 3-4 signalled his demise, and Federer confirmed this by wrapping up the next two points and winning his second Stuttgart title 6-4 7-6(3).


In doing so, he reclaimed the number one world ranking and will probably be seeded one for Wimbledon.

Raonic has moved up four spots to 31 in the rankings and that should secure a seeding at Wimbledon, although he would have been given one anyway, as the organisers for this Grand Slam tournament give seedings based on rankings plus performances on grass - Raonic has been a Wimbledon finalist, semi finalist and quarter finalist previously.


Nottingham:

Ash Barty (1) had slightly the better of the opening set against Johanna Konta (4), converting one of two break chances in the sixth game, and saving the one opportunity given Konta in the very next game.

Barty served out the set to lead 6-3.

At 0-1, Barty saved two break points in set two before two aces sealed the game and 1-1.

Konta saved a break point to hold and Barty saved three to do the same and 2-2 was achieved.

At 3-3 Barty wasted two break chances with poor shots and Konta held firm to not only lead 4-3 but break serve and continue her resurgence to win the set 6-3.


Barty was now the one being hunted as Konta had found the shots to worry the Australian.  However at the start of set three Barty returned to her first set form, breaking serve to lead 3-1, then consolidating for 4-1.

Konta struck back and took the next three games to level at 4-4.

The match, which had so many twists was on a knifes edge now.

Barty had 40-15 but let herself down with a double fault and deuce.

A few deuces didn’t seem to faze the Aussie as she held her nerve and serve and lead 5-4.


Disappointed with the umpire in the previous game, Konta let it affect her, losing the first three points on her serve, and giving those as match points to the top seed.  She saved one but a passing shot with Konta sprawling at the net gave Barty her second career title, and first on grass  6-3 3-6 6-4.

With the title, Ash moves back to her career high ranking of 16.

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