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Redemption In Delray: The Bryans Hoist Their First ITC Trophy

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Redemption In Delray: The Bryans Hoist Their First ITC Trophy


img_9139After a disappointing lost in the 2008 doubles final at the International Tennis Championships, world number one and top seed, Mike and Bob Bryan, bounced back this year by defeating the second seed, Brazilians Marcelo Melo and Andre Sa in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.

The Brazilians began well which troubled the Bryans as they produced a flurry of unforced errors. In the third game, Melo and Sa had triple break point. However, with clutch serving and by holding his composure after an ace was taken off the board due to a foot fault, Mike Bryan came out unscathed to equalize things at 2-2. The set’s next crucial moment came with Sa serving. After the Brazilians lead 40-15, the Bryans broke for a 4-3 advantage. With Mike serving, a crosscourt return by Sa hit Melo in the vicinity of the right eye, a frightening episode causing a temporary halt in the action. Fortunately, Marcelo recovered. After Mike Bryan consolidated the break, Melo closed out his service game with an ace for 4-5. Regardless, with a backhand volley winner by Mike and with two good serves by Bob, the Bryans captured the first set.

In the second set, the Bryans had the opportunity for the early lead. With a forehand return winner, they arrived at a deciding point. But, Melo salvaged the game with a great serve. Bob Bryan continued his strong serving, sealing his game with an ace for 1 all. Each team had a fairly unadventurous time holding serve until the seventh game. After leading 40-15, Melo missed an easy forehand volley, then, Sa volleyed up for 40-40 which meant in essence a break point. Fortunately, Melo’s forehand volley just caught the line which saved the game for 4-3. Thereafter, the Bryans had no trouble on their own service game and pressured the Brazilians. With Melo serving, Mike placed a sensational lob resulting in an unforced error by Melo. Then, Sa mishit a forehand volley to hand the Bryans triple break point. With a forehand winner, the Bryans went up 5-4. With sure handed Bob serving, the Bryans put away a backhand volley up the line, forced three service return errors to secure the match.

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This Week On Grass On The ATP And WTA Tours


At the Ordina Open in the Netherlands, a combined ladies and gentlemen event, Spaniard David Ferrer, seeded number one, defeated Frenchman Marc Gicquel in the finals 6-4, 6-2 in order to win his first grass court title.

The second seed and world number nine, Frenchman Richard Gasquet, was eliminated by Gicquel in the second round. Other prominent players who fell include Ivan Ljubicic in the second round, Guillermo Canas in the semifinals and Mario Ancic in the quarterfinals. All was not lost for Ancic though who teamed up with Austrian Jurgen Melzer in the doubles. These two surprised the second seed Leander Paes/Mahesh Bhupathi in the finals, winning the trophy 7-6, 6-3.

On the women’s side, Danira Safina, the third seed, who has been on a dream ride the last few months, was shocked in the finals by 30-year-old Thai qualifier Tamarine Tanasugarn 5-7, 3-6. Safina beat the number one seed Elena Dementieva in the semifinals. For second seed Anna Chakvetadze the headaches continue this year; Alona Bondarenko stopped her in the quarterfinals.

Tanasugarn had to do it the hard way, but this was the most productive week of her career. After playing two matches to get into the main draw, Tamarine defeated last week’s titlist on grass Kateryna Bondarenko, then Ashley Harkelroad in the second round, hometown sweetheart Michaella Krajicek in the quarterfinals and got rid of the other Bondarenko sister, Alona, in the semifinals. Krajicek gave the locals something to cheer for regardless by winning the doubles with partner Marina Erakovic 6-3, 6-2.

At the Slazenger Open in Nottingham England, Ivo Karlovic successfully defended his title by beating Fernando Verdasco 7-5, 6-7, 7-6. The higher seeds at this tournament were from the top twenty in the world. The well-known doubles teams of Jonathan Erlich/ Andy Ram seeded number one lost in the first round. In the finals, Bruno Soares/Kevin Ullyett prevailed over Jeff Coetzee/Jamie Murray 6-2, 7-6.

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