GSTAAD - Spain's Pablo Andujar broke a title drought lasting for more than two years on Sunday as he defeated Argentine Juan Monaco 6-3, 7-5 to win the Swiss Open. The 71st-ranked Andujar, who won on the village court where the clay stands 1,050 meters above sea level, has two trophies from Casablanca, earned in 2011 and 2012.
"I'm very happy, it was a very tough match, I knew it would be a fight physically," said the winner after the 92 minute final. "The first set was basically played in two points. I won those points and that was the set. He got an advantage in the second set, but finally I made it. I played great on the last few points. After working a lot, it all pays off when you get to hold the trophy. It's amazing."
Andujar continued a Spanish tradition in Gstaad at an event won a dozen times by Iberians since 1990. He is the 11th Spaniard this season to win on the ATP Ten from 42 tournaments so far. Andujar fired his only ace on match point and fell onto his back in joy at taking the third trophy of his career. It was his first match against Monaco.
"I looked up and saw my parents, my girlfriend, my brother in the stands. It was a feeling that I cannot describe. I was going for an ace but I was aiming out wide, instead it hit the line perfectly. It was a lot of work to get this trophy but I'm feeling very comfortable with my game." Andujar won the opening set in 43 minutes with a break for 5-3. World number 105 Monaco put a forehand into the net a game later on Andujar's set point. In the second set, the Argentine went up an early break for 2-0, but lost it in the seventh game on an Andujar return winner.
The pair then traded breaks in three of the next four games before the Spaniard sealed victory. "I've been returning well all week that that helped me," said Andujar. "I don't have the best serve so I try to put pressure with the return. That's what I did this week."
Cuevas upsets Fognini to reach Croatian Open final
Uruguayan qualifier Pablo Cuevas extended his run of shocks by beating number one seed Fabio Fognini to reach the rain-delayed Croatian Open final on Sunday. He will meet defending champion and number two seed Tommy Robredo of Spain, who disposed of third seed Marin Cilic, to get a place in the final later Sunday.
Cuevas, who claimed his maiden tour title win at the Swedish Open this month, defeated top seed Fognini of Italy 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and four minutes. The world number 61 Cuevas raced to a 3-0 lead after two breaks and wrapped up the first set in less than 30 minutes. He got an early break to go 2-0 up in the second set, but Fognini, competing in his fifth semi-final of the year, secured a first break for 2-2 and again to go 4-2 up.
But Cuevas then broke Fognini's serve, won his own and with a convincing game and another break won the second set and the match. Robredo defeated 2012 winner Cilic of Croatia 7-6 (10-8), 6-3. Cilic made the first decisive break of the first set to go 5-3 up. But Robredo broke for 5-4 and then took a tie-break to wrap up the set in a tie-break and then the second set in only 35 minutes.
The Croatian had problems with poor serves and unforced errors. "The first set which saw a big fight was decisive," said Robredo. "After I've won it, Cilic had neither the force nor concentration for a better game in the second set." Torrential rain on Saturday forced the postponement of the semi-finas. The final is scheduled to start at 1800 GMT.